260 



G-reenftouse and Stove Plants. 



NEBIUM. 



N. molle confluens. 



N. molle corymbiferum. 



NEPHROLEPIS. 



A genus of Ferns containing stove and 

 greenhouse species, several of them being 

 splendid plants, remarkable for their 

 elegant arched fronds ; they are worthy of 

 a place in every collection. 



For propagation and cultivation, see 

 Ferns, geneial details of culture. 



STOVE SPECIES. 



N. acuta. 



N. pluma. Madagascar. 



GREENHOUSE SPECIES. 



N. davallioides. East Indies. 

 N. davallioides furcans. South Sea 

 Islands. 



N. exaltata. Tropical America. 

 N. pectinata. Tropical America. 



NERINE. 



In these we have a genus of greenhouse 

 bulbous plants that produce freely their 

 splendid flowers ; N. sarniensis (the 

 Guernsey Lily) is the best known, al- 

 though it, in common with others of this 

 beautiful genus, is now much neglected. 

 Some of the kinds produce leaves before 

 flowering, others push the bloom pre\dous 

 to the leaves. To be successful Avith them 

 the principal matters to be kept in sight 

 are to give due attention to the full de- 

 velopment of their flowers by plenty of 

 water, and a free use of the syringe to 

 keep the foliage clear of insects and 

 healthy, until leaf-growth is completed, 

 and afterwards to get them thoroughly 

 ripened ; the best way to effect this is to 

 remove them from the house or pit in 

 which the growth has been made to the 

 foot of a south wall in the open air ex- 

 posed to the full sun where the roasting 

 they get is of the greatest use. 



They are increased by offsets, which 

 should be taken off before the growing 

 season commences, and put three or four 

 together in 5 or 6 inch pots, according to 

 tlie size the offsets are ; good holding loam 

 with a little sand suits them. Pot firm, 

 and as soon as they show signs of growth 

 give water, and stand them close to tlie 

 glass where they will get all the light 

 and sun possible ; encourage growth ])y 

 syringing overhead daily until the leaves 

 have attained their full size, and admit 

 plenty of air. An ordinai'y greenhouse, 

 still exposed to the full light, -sAill answer 

 for them through the winter, and when 

 the leaves begin to show signs of decay 



withhold water ; through the spiing still 

 let them have all the sun and light possible, 

 but keep cool. When they begin to grow 

 again soak the soil well with water, and if 

 more room seems necessary give pots a size 

 larger, but do not over-pot, as these plants 

 do not like too much room. Treat on- 

 wards through the period of growth as 

 advised for the previous season in every 

 way, again keeping them dry when at 

 rest. A repetition of the treatment 

 thus far advised through the growing 

 season, and subsequent rest, is all that is 

 necessary, as the plants arrive at a flower- 

 ing condition. Afterwards when the pots 

 get too full and more room must be given, 

 the mass of l)ulbs when larger than desired 

 may be divided before the growing season 

 begins. 



The following are all beautiful kinds : — 



N. corusca. Scarlet. 



N. corusca major. Scarlet. 



N. elegans. Pink. 



N. elegans carminata. Cerise. 



iV. elegans coirulea. Shaded blue. 



N. Fothergilli. Scarlet. 



N. Fothergilli major. Scarlet and yellow. 



N. humilis angicstifolia. Rose.. 



N. Flantii. Crimson. 



N. pudica. White. 



N. rosea. Rose. 



N. sarniensis. Rose. 



iV. venusta. Crimson. 



Some of these are hybrids bearing 

 splendid flowers ; the species come from 

 the Cape of Good Hope, China, and Japan. 

 They flower during the advanced summer 

 and autumn months. 



Insects. — Red spider and aphides are 

 the principal insects that affect these 

 plants, syiinge freely while the leaves are 

 fresh for the former ; for aphides fumigate. 



NERIUM. 



(Oleander.) 



This species is an evergreen greenliouse 

 plant, and was introduced from Southern 

 Europe ; there are now several varieties oi 

 it, varying little except in colour. The 

 plants are of easy culture, and wiU bear 

 indifferent treatment and neglect that 

 would cause the death of most things. It 

 is in this neglected condition that they ai'e 

 too often met with, yet it must not be 

 supposed that under such usage anything 

 approaching the success that is possible 

 with a better system, can be attained. It 

 frequently happens with these and some 

 other plants of great excellence that will 

 exist with the worst treatment, that an 

 estimate of their merits is taken under the 

 disadvantages of indifferent culture ; hence 



