SANSEVIERA. 



Greenhoiise and Stove Plants. 



309 



may be put at once into their flowering- 

 pots 8 or 10 inches in diameter, while the 

 very strong growers, such as S. gesnerse- 

 flora, will do put in pots of this size to be 

 moved on later to others 3 or 4 inches 

 larger. After this time they will be better 

 out in the open air, and the shoots should 

 be again stopped as soon as they have 

 begun to grow freely. See that in all their 

 stages these plants are well supplied with 

 water, as if let to get dry the lower leaves 

 suffer and their appearance isspoilt, while, in 

 addition, the growth receives a check. Put 

 sticks for support as required, and stand 

 far enough apart to prevent their being 

 drawn. When the pots get full of roots 

 give manure-water freely. Let them stand 

 out-of-doors as long as there is no danger 

 of frost — when there is they must be moved 

 under glass. The early-flowering kinds 

 will give a fine display through October 

 and November. 



In place of keeping Salvias in pots all 

 through the summer some growers turn 

 them out in the open ground about June, 

 lifting and putting them in pots towards 

 September, which saves some trouble in 

 watering, and if the roots are cut round 

 with a spade a fortnight before taking 

 them up the plants do not suff'er much 

 check ; give them plenty of water, and 

 keep the house or pit in which they are 

 stood a little close for a week or two. 

 After flowering all but enough plants to 

 furnish cuttings may be thrown aAvay. 



The following are desirable kinds : — 



S. Bethellii. Rose colour. 



S. albo-ccBrulea. 



S. coccinea grandiflora. Salmon red. 



S. elegans. Scarlet. 



S. gesnerceflora. Bright scarlet. A fine 

 late sort. 



S. Heerii. Orange and red. 



S. ianthina. Purple. 



S. patens. Blue. 



S. fatens alba. White. 



S. Fitcherii. Blue. 



S. splendetis Bruantii. Scarlet. 



S. tricolor. Purple, white, and scarlet. 



Insects. — Salvias are not much troubled 

 with insects except aphides, for which 

 fumigate or syringe with tobacco-water. 

 If red spider affects them syringe freely 

 with clean water. 



SANCHESIA. 



Evergreen stove plants, combining some- 

 what handsome flowers A\'ith beautiful 

 variegated foliage, which latter is their 

 greatest attraction. The plants have a 

 pretty efi'ect in a sm.all state confined to a 

 single shoot, or larger when grown in the 



form of a dense bush. In general ap- 

 pearance they are not unlike Aphelandra 

 Leopoldii. They are of easy culture, nice 

 examples in 6 or 8 inch pots can be had in 

 a few months from spring-struck cuttings. 



Their method of propagation and after 

 treatment is similar to that advised for 

 Aphelandras, which see. 



S. glaucopJujlla. Ground colour of leaves 

 green, mid-rib red, lateral nerves yeUow. 

 A native of Eucador. 



S. nobilis variegata. Has large, hand- 

 some leaves, ground colour lively green, 

 the nerves yellow, well defined. Also from 

 Eucador. 



SANDERSONIA AURANTIACA. 



A tuberous-rooted plant that may be 

 growTi as a climber ; in habit and general 

 appearance somewhat resembling the Glori- 

 osas. It is the only species of the genus at 

 present in cultivation. The flowers are 

 orange-yellow in colour. It will succeed 

 under treatment such as advised for 

 Gloriosas, which see. It comes from 

 Natal. 



SANSEVIERA ZEYLANICA 



A singular evergreen stove plant with 

 long, narrow, stout, erect sword-like leaves, 

 deep green in colour, banded with white, 

 springing from creeping stems. Those 

 who are fond of plants with a decidedly 

 distinct habit can scarcely fail to like this 

 Sanseviera. It is one of a moderately 

 numerous genus, more of which, for 

 ordinary purposes, it will not be necessary 

 to grow. 



Its cultivation is by no means difficult. 

 It is increased by suckers which should be 

 taken off in spring before growth begins ; 

 all that is necessary is to divide the crowns 

 into pieces, large or small, according to the 

 inclination of the cultivator — a large plant 

 will bear separating into single cruwns, or 

 simply cutting in half ; the pieces should 

 have as much root attached to each as can 

 be got, and should be placed singly in pots 

 large enough to hold them. The plant 

 will grow in either peat or loam with a 

 moderate quantity of sand added. When 

 potted grow on in a brisk stove heat, 

 giving them a moderately light position, 

 with a little shade and a confined atmo- 

 sphere until they begin to grow, after 

 which give air daily with no shade unless 

 the leaves are found to burn. This Sanse- 

 viera does best with a liberal amount of 

 heat in the summer, and in winter should 

 have a night temperature of 60°. It comes 

 from Ceylon. 



