300 



Greenhouse and Stooe Plants. 



tinct-looking plant, Avitli foliaf,'e of great 

 substance. A fine kind. Brazil. 



R. crenata. A distinct and liandsome 

 free-growing variety. 



E. Jonghei. Similar in habit to R. 

 corcovadensis, but with bigger leaves. 

 Brazil. 



R. Forteana. A handsome kind. 



Insects. — The juices of these Rhopalas 

 seem to be proof against insects, except 

 mealy bug, which can easily be kept down 

 by syringing. 



RICHARDIA (CALLA). 



For the distinct and elegant form of 

 their flowers, as for their bold, handsome 

 leaves, these greenhouse plants are alike 

 remarkable ; the ease with which they can 

 be grown still further enhances their 

 merits. The pure white trumpet-shaped 

 flowers of E. sethiopica are equally attractive 

 ■when used for filling large vases as they 

 are when growing on the plant. In addi- 

 tion to their merits as cool greenhouse 

 plants they bear forcing well, so that with 

 a sufficient supply and means for bringing 

 tliem on in heat they can be had in flower 

 fi'om the beginning of the year until 

 far on in summer. The common white 

 species may be termed an aquatic, and it 

 will live and flower out-of-doors in a small 

 pond or tank of water, sufficiently deep to 

 prevent the roots being frozen. 



Callas are best increased from the 

 suckers which they produce freely ; these 

 should be taken off in the spring before 

 growth commences and put singly in from 

 3 to 6 inch pots, according to their size. 

 They grow well in ordinary loam to which 

 has been added a moderate quantitj' of 

 sand. As soon as potted they should be 

 stood in a house or pit — if with a little 

 warmth they will move into growth 

 quicker ; give plenty of water to keep the 

 soil well moistened, and when thej^ begin 

 to move fi'cely stand Avhere they will be 

 under the influence of full light. Do not 

 shade even in the brightest weather unless 

 the leaves are found to be scorched, as the 

 stouter and shorter they are the better. 

 About the end of June give pots a size or 

 two larger, in which they will comi^lete their 

 growth and flower^standing out-of-doors 

 from the latter end of August until there 

 is danger of frost Avill benefit them by 

 hel^Ding to mature the growth, on which 

 their free blooming depends. The strongest 

 plants may be had in floM'er at Christmas 

 by placing them in moderate heat six 

 weeks before ; stand well up to the glass, 

 and do not let the roots want for water. 

 They may be grown to a large size in the 



course of three or four years, so as to fill 

 12 or 15 inch pots if required, by annually 

 moving them on, but moderate-sized ex- 

 amples consisting of two or three crowns 

 in 8 or 10 inch pots are generally prefer- 

 able. 



A still better way where the means 

 exist is in the spring to turn them out of 

 the pots, divide the crowns, and plant 

 them in the open ground in rows, a foot 

 ajDart, with a little more room between the 

 rows, choosing an open situation ; here 

 they will grow very strong if well sujiplied 

 with water through the summer. About 

 the middle of September take up and put 

 in pots just big enough to hold their roots 

 without undue pressure ; so treated they 

 make short leaf-stalks and look better 

 when in fiower, but plants that have been 

 managed in this way are not usually so 

 good for the earliest forcing as such as 

 have been grown in pots altogether, there- 

 fore it is better to keep the outdoor-gro'wn 

 stock for later floweiing. 



The undermentioned are well deserving 

 of a place in every greenhouse : — 



R. albo-maculata. Leaves spotted with 

 white ; a pretty variety. Africa. 



R. cethiopica. The best for greenhouse 

 use. It comes from the Cape of Good 

 Hope. 



R. hastata. A yellow-flowered kind of 

 moderate growth, deserving of a place. 



R. melanoleuca. A pretty kind, similar 

 in habit to R. albo-maculata ; the leaves 

 are spotted with white, the spathes yellow, 

 with a bold blackish-purple spot at the 

 base. A South African species. 



Insects. — Richardias are not much sub- 

 ject to insects except aphides, which often 

 infest the leaves and flowers ; if these 

 appear fumigate with tobacco. 



ROELLA CILIATA. 



This is a native of the Cape ; it has long 

 Ijeen grown in a few collections of hard- 

 wooded greenhouse plants, but from its 

 very distinct general habit, and the un- 

 common colour of its flowers, it seems 

 strange that it has not been more fre- 

 quently met with, especially as used for 

 general decoration — its flowers, from their 

 very unusual colour, associating well with 

 almost any other plants. It is a free 

 grower, but requires to be carefully looked 

 after in respect to mildew, to which it is 

 very subject, particularly in the winter 

 season, if kept in too low a temperature ; 

 in fact, to attempt to winter it in a chilly, 

 damp atmosphere is to court almost certain 

 destruction. There is one peculiarity 

 natural to this plant that some persons 



