274 



GreenJwuse and Stove Plants. 



PEPEROMIA. 



Quercifolium. 

 Quercifolium minus. 



HYBEIDS OF THE UNiQUE TYPE. 



Conspicxmm. 

 Crimson Unique. 

 Mrs. Kingsbury. 

 Rollisson's Unique. 



CAPE SPECIES AND VAEIETIES. 



Ardens. 



Blandfordianum. 



Echincdum. 



Erectwm. 



Little Gem. 



Madame Gewitzki. 



Rosy Morn. 



Semperfiorens. 



Semperflorens Spotted Gem. 



Sidoniamim. 



Insects. — All Pelargoniums, excepting 

 Zonals and their allied kinds, are particu- 

 larly liable to the attacks of aphides ; few 

 other insects trouble them. Timely fumiga- 

 tion with tobacco is the best means of keep- 

 ing them free from these pests, which, if let 

 to get to any considerable head, do serious 

 mischief. It is necessary to be particulaily 

 careful in seeing that the plants are quite 

 clear of the insects before coming into 

 bloom, as if fumigation has to be resorted 

 to after the flowers are open, it is sure to 

 cause their falling oflf prematurely. 



PENTAS. 



The two species of Pentas, P. carnea and 

 P. kei'mesina, are both softwooded shrubs 

 of small growth, producing very freely 

 their delicate flesh-coloured flowers, which 

 appear in medium-sized bunches at the 

 points of the shoots. They are natives of 

 Africa, and need a moderate stove tempera- 

 ture, in which, with little care, they thrive 

 well. They may be easily increased at 

 any time of the year from cuttings of the 

 half-matured shoots whenever these can be 

 had ; if the propagation is begun in spring, 

 say the middle of April, at which time 

 suitable cuttings will be forthcoming, com- 

 posed of three or four joints of the terminal 

 ends of the shoots, put three or four to- 

 gether in 4-inch or 5-inch pots in sand, 

 keep them moist and covered with a pro- 

 pagating glass in moderate heat, and shaded 

 when it is sunny ; here they will root in 

 three or four weeks, after which gradually 

 remove the glasses, and when the cuttings 

 have got inured to the full air of the house, 

 move them separately into 3-inch pots 

 ttUed with sandy loam and a little leaf- 

 mould ; keep the soil moderately moist, 

 and shade slightly when the sun is 



powerful. As soon as they begin to grow 

 pinch out the points of the growths ; this 

 should be repeated two or three times 

 during the summer ; tie the branches out 

 horizontally, which will cause them to 

 form a number of shoots. By the middle 

 of July move them into 6-inch or 7-inch 

 pots ; they are free rooters, and will bear 

 a liberal shift such as this. Stand them in 

 a light place and give room enough, so that 

 they may not be overhung by taller-grow- 

 ing things which are often allowed to 

 seriously injure low growers like these, 

 and so prevent them from blooming as 

 they otherwise would. When well man- 

 aged, they will keep on flowering almost 

 continuously as growth is made, but they 

 are more useful in the autumn, until which 

 time it will be weU to keep the flowers 

 picked off. 



Liquid manure will help them when the 

 pots get full of roots ; let them have all 

 the light available through the autumn, for 

 on this depends to a great extent the 

 amount of bloom they will make. After 

 the flowers are removed from the points of 

 the shoots, if the wood has been grown 

 under conditions that ensure its being well 

 matured, the joints below will push growth, 

 which will form flower-heads that will 

 open in succession. The blooms are dis- 

 tinct and very useful for cutting. When 

 the short days of winter arrive keep oiie 

 plants drier at the roots, but not so as to 

 cause them to flag ; a temperature of 60" 

 will suit them through the dormant season. 

 Just before growth begins in spring cut 

 back the shoots well, and as soon as they 

 have broken turn them out, remove part 

 of the old soil, and give them pots 1 inch 

 or 2 inches larger, treating as through the 

 preceding summer. It is better now to cut 

 the flowers for use as they open, as it will 

 keep the plants compact. The old examples 

 may be kept on, managed as already ad- 

 vised by renewing the soil, or young ones 

 can always be had coming on to take their 

 place. P. rosea is also a desirable kind 

 that will succeed under similar treatment. 

 It has rose-coloured flowers. From Africa. 



Insects. — Pentas are not usually much 

 afl'ected with insects, but should any of 

 those that infest stove plants make their 

 appearance, use the syringe and sponge. 



PEPEROMIA. 



In these we have an interesting set of 

 small-growing stove fine-leaved plants of a 

 soft fleshy texture, both as regards leaves 

 and stems. Some of the weaker-growing, 

 trailing-habited species are well adapted 

 for hanging baskets ; they are all suitable 



