296 



Greenhouse arid >Stooe Plants. 



PSYCHOTRIA. 



wliere tliey will get plenty of light ; as 

 soon as the little pots are full of roots move 

 intt) others an inch or two larger, using 

 soil like that advised for the single kinds. 

 A good light house or pit is better suited 

 for the growth of this section of Primulas 

 than frames such as recommended for the 

 single sorts. The general treatment re- 

 quired through the summer in the matters 

 of soil, air, water, and shade is similar to 

 that needed by the single varieties. Con- 

 sequently, all further that is necessary is 

 to move the plants on into larger pots when 

 those they are now in get fairly tilled with 

 roots. When the weather becomes cold in 

 autumn the double sorts should be placed 

 where they can have a little more warmth — 

 from 45° to 50° in the night is not too much, 

 and be stood near the glass. In a low 

 temperature it is scarcely possible to avoid 

 many going off by damjiing, as a further 

 precaution against which the soil should 

 be kept raised right up to the foot of the 

 stalks of the lower leaves. 



The single Primulas have been so much 

 improved in recent years, that all needful 

 is to secure good strains of the white, red, 

 and purple forms. Of double kinds there 

 are several sorts of white, pink, and red, 

 that afford enough variety for all purposes. 



P. japonica. Makes a useful pot plant 

 for greenhouse or conservatory decoration. 

 It is easily raised from seed. 



P. Sieboldii (cortusoides amccna). This 

 is a beautiful species of which there are 

 many forms, varying in colour fi-om white 

 to pink, lavender, red, and crimson. These 

 are nearly hardy, and are charming plants 

 for greenhouse decoration, for which they 

 should be kept in pots, plunged and pro- 

 tected in frames through the winter. They 

 are increased by division of the crowns, 

 potted and grown on in cold frames. 



Insects. — Aphides are almost the only 

 insects that affect Primulas ; the best 

 method of destroying them is by fumiga- 

 tion with tobacco. 



PRITCHAKDIA. 



A beautiful genus of stove Palms, so dis- 

 tinct in a|3pearance that they should find a 

 place everywhere where large fine-leaved 

 plants are grown. 



For propagation and cultivation, see 

 Palms, general details of culture. 



P. Martii. A handsome species with 

 massive, deeply-plaited leaves. From the 

 South Sea Islands. 



P. pacifica. A noble plant with very 

 large palmatisect, plaited leaves, that re- 

 curve considerably at their outer edge. It 

 is manageable in size so that it can be 



accommodated in an ordinary-sized house. 

 From the Polynesian Islands. 



PRONAYA ELEGANS. 



An evergreen plant from the Swan River 

 with blue or lilac flowers, produced in 

 summer. It is not very attractive or much 

 grown, but it can be used as a roof-climber. 



It can be raised from seeds sown in 

 spring, or shoot cuttings put in at the same 

 season, treated in the ordinary way in a 

 temperature of 65° ; pot on when rooted 

 and keep in a medium heat until mid- 

 summer, when give more air, and treat as 

 required for the generality of greenhouse 

 species. Winter at about 45°, and in spring 

 give more pot- room. The plant is a mode- 

 rate grower, and does best in good fibrous 

 peat, with some sand ; through the summer 

 give such treatment as is required by other 

 Australian plants, with plenty of light and 

 air. The spring following turn out in the 

 border where they are to be grown, and 

 train the shoots as they extend. 



Insects. — Red spider is often trouble- 

 some, unless the syringe is kept regularly 

 in use through the growing season. It is 

 also more subject to aphides than most 

 plants of like description, and must be 

 frequently fumigated, or the young leaves 

 get crippled. 



PROSTANTHERA. 



Evergreen greenhouse flowering shrubs, 

 not much valued at the present day. They 

 thrive under treatment such as advised for 

 Chorozemas, which see. 



The following are the best of the genus : 



P. lasianthos. Is a summer bloomer ; 

 it bears purple flowers, and comes from 

 New South Wales. 



P. linearis. Also a summer bloomer, 

 with pmple flowers, from New South 

 Wales. 



PSYCHOTRIA JASMINIFLORA. 



This plant, usually known as Gloneria 

 jasminiflora, is of comparatively recent in- 

 troduction, and is well worth a place. It 

 is an evergreen species of neat growth, re- 

 quiring stove heat. The flowers are white, 

 borne at the points of the shoots in bunches, 

 like those of a Bouvardia. It blooms in 

 spring. 



Its mode of propagation, and the general 

 culture required, are such as advised for 

 Jasminums, which see. It comes from 

 Brazil. 



Insects. — Scale and mealy bug are often 

 troublesome on the plant, and must be 



