Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 



345 



lead pinch out the point as before advised. 

 The summer management, as also that for 

 the ensuing autumn and winter, will need 

 to be in every way as before, and they 

 should be again moved towards the begin- 

 ning of April into pots 2 inches larger than 

 those they have occupied. Use plenty of 

 drainage, as all slow-growing subjects like 

 this are very impatient of stagnant water at 

 the roots ; pot moderately firm, and do not 

 give much water until the roots have begun 

 to enter the new soil. Keep the atmo- 

 sphere a little close for a short time, and 

 shade slightly during bright sunny weather 

 all through the growing season, for if too 

 much exposed the leaves are apt to suffer 

 and turn brown at the points, and the 

 plant is given an unsightly appearance. 

 The naturally stout erect habit is such that 

 they do not require or admit of much 

 training, except just opening out the prin- 

 cipal branches, which should in this way be 

 secured to a few neat sticks ; nor after 

 this stage has been reached can much be 

 done in the way of pinching back the shoots 

 as they branch out naturally, further than 

 cutting back any that are unduly taking 

 the lead. Growth will be accelei'ated by 

 closing the house through the growing sea- 

 son in the afternoons while the sun is yet 

 upon the glass, and slightly damping the 

 plants overhead, as well as keeping the at- 

 mosphere and stage upon which they stand 

 a little moist. 



The treatment which is required during 

 the growing season will be of a uniform 

 character, as above described, but towards 

 autumn discontinue the use of the syringe 

 and shading; admit more air to discourage 

 growth before winter. Nothing is neces- 

 sary in the shape of hardening up the 

 plants, as this Witsenia is not subject to 

 the attacks of mildew consequent on in- 

 sufficiently matured shoots. Keep through 

 the winter in an ordinary greenhouse tem- 

 perature in a moderately light situation, 

 and give no more watei' that is requisite to 

 prevent the soil getting too dry. Eepot in 

 April, giving a 2 or 3 inch shift, according 

 to the quantity of roots the plants have 

 got, again shortening any shoots that may 

 be outgrowing the others ; this should be 

 attended to from time to time as requisite, 

 and none should be allowed to take the 

 lead too much, as that would entail a waste 

 of strength. Treat through the summer 

 as in the season before. This autumn they 

 will, if all goes well, bloom from the prin- 

 cipal shoots. When in flower they can be 

 used for conservatory decoration, and after- 

 wards removed to the greenhouse for the 

 winter. Eepot again in spring, using the 

 soil in a little rougher state now that the 



plants are larger. Continue to treat as 

 heretofore advised, both in the growing 

 season and when at rest ; a 14-inch pot is 

 big enough to grow them in when arrived 

 at their full size. They will last for a 

 number of years without repotting if 

 manure-water is used once a week during 

 the growing season, but the drainage 

 should each spring be examined, as if it 

 gets clogged up with soil the health of the 

 plants speedily suffer. 



Insects. — This Witsenia is not usually 

 much troubled Avith insects, its hard leaves 

 not affording much sustenance to the gene- 

 rality of i^lant pests. The use of the syringe 

 during the growing season will keep in 

 check red spider, which sometimes makes 

 its appeai'ance. Scale, both white and 

 brown, will live on it ; the white species 

 will, if it once gets a footing, increase 

 apace, and from the nature of the plant 

 cannot well be destroyed by any of the 

 usual liquid dressings, as the leaves will 

 not bear such used in sufficient strength to 

 kill the insect, which can only be removed 

 by sponge and brush ; these in like manner 

 can be used for the removal of brown scale, 

 which, however, does not increase rapidly 

 on this plant. 



WOODWARDIA. 



This genus of Ferns contains greenhouse 

 and hardy species ; some of the former are 

 noble plants when room enough is given 

 them to attain their full size. W. radicans 

 reaches a size of 10 to 12 feet across when 

 planted out in a Fernery under favourable 

 conditions, its finely arched massive fronds 

 having few equals. 



For pi'opagation and cultivation, see 

 Ferns, general details of culture. 



GREENHOUSE SPECIES. 



W. orientalis. Japan 

 W. radicans. Madeira. 

 W. radicans cristata. 



YUCCA. 



The greenhouse species of Yucca are 

 desirable plants, grown for their handsome 

 and singular foliage. They are suitable 

 for intermixing with flowering plants in 

 greenhouses, conservatories, or rooms, the 

 persistent character of their leaves being 

 such as to enable them to bear for a con- 

 siderable time positions where things of a 

 less enduring habit would suffer. 



They are increased by suckers from the 

 roots, or by pieces of the stems which, when 

 they get old and denuded of leaves, may 

 be cut into pieces a couple of inche« long, 

 containing two or three eyes. Insert 



