252 



Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 



weeks ; after which they can be removed 

 to the greenhouse, and wintered as pre- 

 viously. It will be advisable at this time 

 to go over them and shorten their shoots 

 back, as this will be better done now, when 

 the plants have attained some size, than in 

 the spring as heretofore. Give them 

 another shift about the time advised the 

 preceding seasons ; they should again have 

 pots 3 inches larger, and be treated in 

 every way as hitherto recommended as to 

 potting, syringing overhead, and water at 

 the roots ; by the time of flowering they 

 will have got to a useful size, and be found 

 attractive. 



This Mitraria, from the free but some- 

 what weak habit of the shoots, requires 

 cutting back after flowering to within 6 or 

 8 inches of the point whence the previous 

 season's growth has commenced. Fourteen 

 or 15 inch pots are large enough to grow 

 even the largest plants in, as after they get 

 into that size they may be kept in a free 

 healthy condition by the use of manure- 

 water during the growing season. 



Insects. — The plant is sometimes af- 

 fected with red spider, but if the syringing 

 advised whilst in active growth is attended 

 to, it will be kept in check. Should black 

 thrips make its appearance fumigate with 

 tobacco, or syringe freely overhead with 

 tobacco-water. 



MOHRIA THURIFRAGA. 



A distinct-looking greenhouse Fern, with 

 pretty habit of growth. From tlie Mascaren 

 Islands. For propagation and cultivation, 

 see Ferns, general details of culture. 



MONOCH^TUM. 



Pretty, free-floAvering, evergreen, warm 

 greenhouse plants, that can be grown up 

 from cuttings in a single season to a 

 blooming condition. 



They strike readily from shoot cuttings 

 in spring, treated in their early stages in 

 the Avay advised for Linums (which see), 

 except that peat should be used in place of 

 loam, and that the IMonochsetums, not 

 being so much subject to red spider, do 

 not require more syringing overhead than 

 is needful to promote growth. They 

 flower in the autumn. 



The following are worth growing : — 



M. ensiferum. Flowers pink. From 

 Oaxaca. 



M. Humboldtii. Rose colour. A native 

 of the Caraccas. 



M. Lemoniamim. Reddish-purple. 



M. sericeum multijlorum. Mauve. 



MURALTIA. 



A genua of dwarf-growing evergreen 

 greenhouse shrubs. They are nearly allied 

 to Polygalas, but the flowers are smaller, 

 and they are not equal to the above-named 

 plants for decorative use. 



Their propagation and after treatment 

 are such as advised for Polygalas, which 

 see. 



31. filiformis (syn. : Polygala filiformis). 

 Flowers purple, produced in summer and 

 autumn. From the Cape of Good Hojje. 



M. Heisteria (syn. : Polygala Heisteria). 

 A purple-flowered species that usually 

 blooms in winter. A native of the Cape 

 of Good Hope. 



P. humilis (syn. : Polygala humilis). 

 This also bears purple flowers in summer. 

 It comes from the Cape of Good Hope. 



MUSA. 



The Musas may be classed ainong the 

 most stately and distinct of all fine-leaved 

 stove plants. They are quick growers, and 

 always effective where sufficient room can 

 be given to allow of their large leaves 

 attaining their full dimensions ; and where 

 there is not space enough to admit of this, 

 their cultivation should not be attempted. 

 In addition to their attractive appearance, 

 valuable fruits are produced by at least two 

 of the genus. They are free and quick 

 growers and readily projiagated from 

 suckers, which the plants when strong 

 pioduce freely ; if these are separated with 

 some roots from the old plants and at once 

 put in pots that will admit them, with a 

 moderate quantity of soil, and placed in a 

 temperature of from 65° to 70°, they will 

 grow away without delay. Go(3d fresh 

 loam with a little sand answers for them, 

 and if some bone-dust is added, all the 

 better. If the suckers are put in as 

 above advised early in the spring, they 

 will make rapid growth, and very soon 

 require larger pots if they are to be grown 

 in pots ; this, for ordinary decorative pur- 

 poses, is the most convenient way, as it 

 admits of the plants being moved about 

 where required, but if cultivated with a 

 view to the production of fruit, such as 

 borne by M. Cavendishii, they will succeed 

 much better planted out where their roots 

 will have more space. In this case, how- 

 ever, their treatment in other respects need 

 not be in any way difi^erent from that 

 required when grown in pots or large tubs. 

 Increase the heat as the sun gets more 

 power. They will bear through the 

 summer as high a temperature as most 

 plaiits in cultivation, with plenty of water 



