250 



Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 



easily grown, and among the freest of free 

 bloomers, flowering in succession from 

 every shoot that is made. Blooming as 

 they do in a small state, these Meyenias 

 are suitable for growing by those who are 

 not a])le to accommodate larger plants. 

 Cuttings made of small bits of the young 

 shoots strike freely ; if these are put in 

 about the middle of April they will root 

 in three or four weeks if kept close, moist, 

 and shaded ; when well rooted move them 

 singly into 3-inch pots. They will grow 

 in either peat or loam ; if the latter is used, 

 mix with it a little leaf-mould, adding sand 

 according to the nature of the loam ; give 

 them a temperature of 65° in the night 

 with more during the day, regulated by 

 the heat out of doors. Do not < ver-water, 

 as these plants, through free growers, are 

 a little delicate at the roots. Give shade 

 or not, as needed by the state of the 

 weather. Stop the shoots to promote the 

 growth of side branches, and give 7-inch 

 or 8-inch pots as soon as those the plants 

 already occupy are filled with roots. As 

 growth extends a few sticks may be re- 

 quired for support. A little manure- water 

 will be of use after they have got well hold 

 of the soil. Syringe freely overhead daily 

 throughout the summer, regulating the 

 amount of air by the outside temperature. 



Towards August they may be expected 

 to bloom, after which they will keep on 

 until the approach of autumn renders a 

 reduction of heat necessary. Give less 

 water through the winter, during which 

 time a temperature of 55° or 60° will 

 suffice. They may be cut in before start- 

 ing to grow in spring ; then again keep 

 them warmer, and, as soon as they have 

 broken, repot, giving them 2 inches or .3 

 inches more room. This second summer, 

 if manure-water is regularly supplied, they 

 will not require another "shift, and will 

 bloom all through the season after mid- 

 summer. The plants may, if required, be 

 kept on another year or be discarded, and 

 their place tilled by younger stock. These 

 Meyenias come from Fernando Po. 



Insects. — These plants are somewhat 

 liable to red spider, but the nature of their 

 foliage is such that the regular syringing 

 they should have daily through the grow- 

 ing season will be sufficient to keep this 

 insect down, and also aphides, which are 

 likewise sometimes troublesome. 



MICROLEPIA. 



This genus of Ferns consists of stove and 

 greenhouse species, and is closely allied to 

 Davallias. It contains a few kinds worth 

 growing. 



For propagation and cultivation, see 

 Ferns, general details of culture. 



STOVE SPECIES. 



M. hirta cristata. South Sea Islands. 

 M. piatyphylla. East Indies. 



GREENHOUSE SPECIES. 



M. anthriscifolia. South Africa. 

 M. scabra. Nepaul. 



MIKANIA. 



Evergreen greenhouse twiners, with 

 pretty flowers, but not much grown, or 

 equal to many things that will succeed 

 under the same conditions. They are in- 

 creased by shoot cuttings in spring, struck 

 in the usual way, and grown on in a 

 mixture of peat and loam, in a little extra 

 warmth, until they are big enough to plant 

 out where they are to remain ; or they can 

 be transferred to good-sized pots, with the 

 shoots kept trained over the space to be 

 occupied. 



31. scandens. Has white flowers, pro- 

 duced in summer. From North America. 



M. suaveolens. Also has white flowers 

 that appear in summer. A native of South 

 America. 



Insects. — Red spider and thrips are 

 sometimes troublesome ; fumigate for the 

 latter, and syringe to keep the spider in 

 check. 



MIMOSA PROSTRATA. 



Most of the species of Mimosa re- 

 quire more warmth than a greenhouse 

 aft'ords, but there is one, M. prostrata, that 

 may be used as a roof climber in a cool 

 house, in which way its elegant foliage is 

 seen to advantage. 



It is an evergreen plant, and can be in- 

 creased by shoot cuttings in spring in the 

 usual way, kept close, moist, and shaded in 

 a temperature of 70° ; afterwards they can 

 grown on m a moderate stove heat until 

 they have got well established ; afterwards 

 they will thrive in the temperature of a 

 greenhouse, with such treatment as ordi- 

 narily given to the occupants of a cool 

 house. The young plants should not be 

 stopped, but encouraged to grow with a 

 single stem, which should be trained to the 

 rafter intended to be occupied ; more root- 

 room should be given as required. 



Insects. — Syringe freely through the 

 spring and summer to keep down red 

 spider. Aphides are sometimes trouble- 

 some on this Mimosa, and are best got rid 

 of by fumigation. 



