256 



Greenliouse and Stove Plants. 



NEPENTHES. 



strings taken up and attached to the roof, 

 from which the shoots can be cut as re- 

 quired. Propagation may also be effected 

 by division of the roots, which shoukl be 

 carried out in spring, just before growth 

 commences ; treat afterwards as recom- 

 mended for the cutting-raised stock. 



Insects.— Aphides and thrips %vill both 

 live on the plants, but if due attention 

 is given to daily syringing through the 

 growing season this is generally sufficient 

 to keep them under ; when troublesome 

 fumigation will effect a riddance. 



MYRTUS (MYRTLE) 



These pretty, old-fashioned plants are 

 not now held in such estimation as in 

 times past before the introduction of such 

 numbers of greenhouse species bearing 

 shoAvy flowers, — which latter have done 

 much to banish many kinds of sterling 

 merit, such as the Myrtles. These, in 

 addition to their beautiful glossy foliage 

 and pretty white flowers, h've an agreeable 

 perfume, and possess the merit, if fairly 

 attended to, of keeping in healthy condi- 

 tion for an indefinite number of years — 

 in this respect vying with the Orange, 

 which is proverbial for its lengthened 

 existence under cultivation. 



MATtles are easily struck from cuttings 

 of tiie three-parts ripened shoots, which 

 should be taken off with a heel towards 

 the latter end of si;mmer, when the growth 

 is in right condition ; the cuttings should 

 be put several together in 5 or 6 inch pots, 

 filled with sand, kept moist and shaded in 

 a cool pit or greenliouse until they are 

 callused over at the base, after which stand 

 them in a temperature of 60° where they 

 will make roots. They shotdd then be 

 moved singly into small pots and be kept 

 through the winter where the heat in the 

 night will be about 50°, here they vnR go 

 on moving slowly. As soon as top growth 

 has made a little progress pinch out the 

 points of the shoots, and about the middle 

 of March move into 4-inch pots ; they will 

 grow in either peat or loam, but we jjrefer 

 the latter where of good quality, sand being 

 added as required. Give a little more 

 warmth both day and night until the 

 latter end of May, when artificial heat 

 will not be needed. Again pinch out the 

 points of the shoots, stand the plants on a 

 moist bottom near the glass, and give a 

 moderate amount of air in the day, with a 

 little shade in bright weather ; sj-ringe 

 overhead at the time of shutting off the 

 air, and apply water to the soil as needed. 

 Contmue to treat in this way through the 

 summer, by the end of which they should 



be nice-sized bushy plants. A winter tem- 

 perature of from 35° to 40° will suffice, as 

 anything short of frost will do no harm, 

 and the plants are better for not making 

 any growth through the winter. In spring 

 give larger pots, regulating the size ac- 

 cording to the strength of the variety 

 grown — the miniature Jenny Reichenbach 

 (a desirable kind on account of the shoots 

 being so useful for mixing in bouquets, 

 where those of the larger sorts are not 

 always admissible) does not need pots near 

 so large as the stronger varieties. The sub- 

 sequent treatment required is of a routine 

 character, simply following the course so 

 far advised as to light, air, water, and the 

 use of the syringe until the end of June, 

 after which the plants are better out-of- 

 doors where they will get a little shade in 

 the middle of the day ; so managed they 

 will ripen their growth and set flowers so 

 as to give them a pretty appearance when 

 in bloom, which will be in the spring, 

 early or late, according to the temperature 

 they are kept in. 



The following are desirable kinds : — 



M. communis angustifolia. 



M. communis Jenny Reichenbach. 



M. communis latifolia. 



M. communis latifolia j}lena. 



All have white flowers, and are natives 

 of Southern Europe. 



Insects. — The regular use of the syringe 

 advised will keep down most insects, but 

 should scale get on them it must be re- 

 moved by sponging and washing with in- 

 secticide in the winter when the growth is 

 matured. 



NELUMBIUM. 



These are beautiful aquatic plants, re- 

 quiring similar treatment to Nymphseas, 

 which see, except that they must have 

 the water a good depth ; their flower- 

 stems, unlike the Nymphseas, rise high 

 out above the water, and there is this 

 further difl'erence that, when at rest, they 

 may be allowed to get into a semi-dry 

 condition. 



N. luteum. A pretty yellow-flowered 

 plant that blooms in summer. It comes 

 from Carolina, and will thrive in a warm 

 greenhouse. 



N. speciosxhm. A beautiful species known 

 as the Sacred Bean. The flowers are pale 

 pink in colour, and highly Iragrant. It 

 is found in India and adjacent warm 

 countries. 



NEPENTHES. 



(Pitcher Plants.) 

 Wlien first the handsomely marked 



