Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 



SALVIA. 



points out of the strongest shoots ; keep 

 them supplied with water at the roots, but 

 they do not require to be so moist as some 

 plants. Give increased warmth as the 

 summer advances, and treat generally as 

 in the preceding season ; they may be ex- 

 pected to bloom about July or a little later, 

 and will keep on flowering for some time. 

 Nothing more Avill be needed except addi- 

 tional root-room each spring until they 

 occupy pots 12 or 13 inches in diameter ; 

 after that each season some of the old soil 

 may be shaken away and new substituted, 

 giving a little manure-water during the 

 height of their growth. They are good 

 plants for hanging baskets. 



B. juncea. Has very narrow leaves, bears 

 bright scarlet, pendent, tubular flowers, and 

 is a native of Mexico. 



B. multiflora. Bears bright red flowers, 

 which are produced freely when the growth 

 is well matured through being exposed to 

 sufi&cient light and air. It comes from 

 South America. 



Insects. — Russelias are not much sub- 

 ject to the attacks of insects, but mealy 

 bug and scale will live upon them ; if 

 affected by the former, lay the plants down 

 on their sides and syringe them freely with 

 tepid water. Scale must be removed by 

 sponging. 



SABAL. 



A genus of stout, large-growing stove 

 Palms, with fan-shaped leaves, only suitable 

 for a large house where their big leaves have 

 room to extend. 



For propagation and cultivation, see 

 Palms, general details of culture. 



S.Blackburniana(syn.: S. umbraculifera). 

 A large, strong-growing species that forms 

 a thick trunk, on which are borne very large 

 fan-shaped leaves, deeply plaited. It comes 

 from the West Indies. 



SACCHARUM. 



This is a genus of reed-like stove plants 

 to which much interest is attached from 

 the fact that one species S. ofiicinarum, 

 which produces the sugar of commerce, 

 belongs to it. All the species are easily 

 grown, and have more or less elegance in 

 their appearance. 



Propagation may be effected by division 

 of the crowns, which should be carried out 

 in spring before growth commences and 

 the plants at once placed in a brisk grow- 

 ing heat ; they thrive in a mixture of loam 

 and peat, with some sand added. After 

 they get established a cool stove or inter- 

 mediate heat is all that will be required, 

 with abundance of water whilst growing, 



and a free use of the syringe, keeping the 

 soil drier in winter. 



S. officinarum. This species forms straight 

 stems clothed with handsome green leaves. 

 It grows to a height of 8 or 10 feet, and is 

 very effective for use in the many ways that 

 fine-leaved plants are now employed. It 

 comes from India. 



S. violaceum. Differs little in appear- 

 ance from S. officinarum, except that the 

 stems have a purple or violet colour, 

 which, contrasting with the green shade 

 of the leaves, enhances their appearance. 

 From the West Indies. 



Insects. — Red spider and aphides are 

 sometimes troublesome on these plants, 

 but a free use of the syringe will usually 

 be sufficient to keep the former in check ; 

 for aphides fumigate. 



SADLERIA CYATHEOIDES. 



A beautiful, distinct-looking Tree Fern 

 of moderate growth. At present it is very 

 rare in collections, but deserves a place in 

 even the most select company. It comes 

 from the Sandwich Islands, and requires 

 warm treatment. 



For propagation and cultivation, see 

 Ferns, general details of culture. 



SALVIA. 



Amongst the best autumn and winter 

 flowering plants are the Salvias. Being 

 remarkably easy to grow, and abundant 

 bloomers, they at once become most 

 valuable for greenhouse decoration, and 

 for furnishing flowers for cutting. Cut- 

 tings of the various kinds struck in the 

 spring have ample time to get large enough 

 for flowering in autumn and winter ; if 

 put in about the middle of April, five or 

 six together in 6-inch pots in sand, stood 

 in a temperature of 60°, kept close, moist, 

 and shaded, they will strike in ten days or 

 a fortnight ; then give more air, and as 

 soon as they have had time to make a fair 

 amount of roots move singly to 3-inch 

 pots, and for a week or two stand in a 

 similar temperature to that in which they 

 have been struck. When they get esta- 

 blished pinch out the points of the shoots, 

 and give air freely ; by the end of May 

 the plants will be better out in a cold pit 

 where they can have plenty of light. 

 Again pinch out the points of the shoots 

 when they have grown a joint or two ; 

 they are quick growers, and in June should 

 be moved to larger pots, the size being 

 varied in accordance with that of the sorts 

 grown, the smaller growers, like S. Pit- 

 cherii and others of the autumn bloomers, 



