642 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
ROMULEA. In his “Handbook of Iridex"” J. G. 
Baker reduces the number of species to thirty-three. To 
those deseribed on pp. 312-3, Vol. III., the following 
should be added : 
R. Clusiana (Clusius’). fl. bright yellow, pointed with lilac; 
stamens yellow; scape simple or forked from the base, 
1. about four, arched, 6in. to 12in. long. Spain and Portugal. 
There is a form with white flowers. 
R. longifolia (long-leaved). The correct name of R. cruciata. 
R. Macowani (Macowan’s). ji. lin. to 1sin. in diameter, bright 
golden-yellow in the lower eo lighter upwards, often tinged 
red at the tips; stamens half as long as the segments. J. long, 
spreading, sub-terete. Stems short, one- to _four-flowered. 
South Africa. Greenhouse. (G. C. 1887, i., pp. 180, 184, f. 42.) 
R. pudica is a variety of R. rosea. 
R. speciosa (showy). This is a variety of R. rosea, with deep 
carmine flowers. (B. M. 1476.) 
RONDELETIA. &. odorata major is a form with 
larger flowers than in the type. 
RONNBERGIA COLUMBIANA. A synonym of 
Quesnelia columbiana (which see). 
ROOM PLANTS. The cultivation of Room Plants 
constitutes a most interesting phase of gardening. The 
chief causes of failure are: purchasing from a wrong 
source, injudicions treatment—in either watering, the 
application of stimulants in too great quantities or at 
inopportune times—bad potting, too frequent shifts, 
attempts to increase the stock, frost, draught, dust, and 
bad drainage. There are comparatively few insect and 
other enemies to Room Plants, and those which are in 
evidence are easily dealt with. Soil, of course, is a factor 
in ae culture, and one that is also but little under- 
stood. 
The source whence a plant is obtained has a most 
important bearing upon its future welfare, and particu- 
larly in the case of those foliage subjects which in a 
state of nature require a hot, moist temperature, and 
whose surroundings haye as nearly as possible to be 
imitated when they are grown artificially here. Despite 
the fact, however, that many of our finest foliage Room 
Plants are natives of warmer climes, they are sufficiently 
accommodating to live amidst very different surroundings 
if they are but intelligently treated. The travelling 
hawker is always to be avoided. The plants he has for 
disposal have been grown on by a method to fit them 
for quick sale, and their lives are most ephemeral. India- 
rubber Plants, Palms, Fatsias, and numberless Ferns are 
raised in large quantities to supply the markets, and 
such are abont the worst that can be purchased if a long 
life is desired. To get the best possible results with 
Palms and such like they should be purchased from a 
trustworthy nurseryman or florist who has prepared the 
plants for the treatment they are likely to undergo. 
They should also be purchased in late spring or summer : 
never in winter or in autumn. 
Frost and draught are most powerful enemies against 
which the cultivator of Room Plants has to contend. 
A window is the most suitable position for plants 
generally in the daytime, as there they get a maximum 
of light and sunshine. At night, in winter, the case is 
different. A good plan is to have at hand a couple of 
wire stands, on to which the plants could be moved at 
night, and these should be placed in the centre of the 
room, or else in a corner where draughts are not 
prevalent at night, and, if necessary, further surrounded 
by a temporary screen of stout tiffany, which can easily 
be mounted upon a roughly-constructed frame. By this 
means the dangers from frost are considerably reduced, 
and the plants can easily be returned to their quarters 
in the window in the morning. Some further protection 
may be necessary in the case of Palms, and this will 
be referred to further on, 
Air is very necessary to the well-being of plants. In 
winter time the top sash may be allowed down in liying 
rooms, say a couple of inches, this space being filled by 
a piece of close wire gauze-like material; this may be 
so arranged that at any time the window may be at 
once closed. The door should not be left open at the 
same time as the window, or the result will be disastrous 
to plant life, especially when cold and drying winds are 
prevalent. Plants, too, which are used for hall decora- 
tion must also be guarded against frost and draught. 
Dust on the foliage clogs the breathing pores. Where, 
tnerefore, Palms, Euryas, Aspidistras, Indiarubber Plants, 
Room Plants—continued. 
and similar stout-textured foliage subjects are employed 
in rooms, they should be carefully kept clean of dust 
and dirt, and the best means of doing this is with a 
sponge and some soft lukewarm water. This should be 
done twice a week, or oftener in the case of very dusty 
apartments. 
The importance of good drainage in the case of pot- 
or box-plants can hardly be over-estimated. An im- 
perfectly drained pot soon causes the best and freest of 
soils to sour, and quickly destroys the most promising 
of plants. Especial care must be given to the pieces 
covering the hole or holes of the pot or box. The other 
drainage material must be so arranged that the water 
passes freely through. The amount of drainage, and 
even the kind employed, will vary a little with the class 
of plant. As a rule, pieces of old pots and broken or 
whole oyster shells are amongst the best for plants in 
general, Cactuses require special treatment in the matter 
of potting, and this is fully dealt with under Cactus. 
Before a plant can be properly potted, its requirements 
must be known to a nicety, for whereas in the majority 
of cases crowded root-space might be taken as an 
almost certain indication of the need of a shift, there 
are plants which succeed better the less they are 
interfered with, so long as they receive some assistance 
by means of top-dressings or stimulants. All classes of 
Room Plants are not equally affected, and therefore no 
hard-and-fast rule can be laid down. Palms yield the 
best results when they are not given too much room; 
and a frequent cause of failure is shifting them too 
frequently. The roots must be the absolute gnide 
to repotting. So long as these are not too crowded, 
the drainage is ample, and the plant exhibits a health 
appearance, it should not be repotted. And so it is with 
many other of the foliage plants used for room decora- 
tion—Aspidistras in particular. Then the manner of 
potting will vary with the class of plant; Chrysanthe- 
mums, for instance, require the compost tightly rammed, 
and so also do Palms. As a general rule, hard-wooded 
plants, like Heaths, require to be more firmly potted 
than soft-wooded ones, like Pelargoniums. 
Palms, according to Dr. Udo Dammer, are best potted 
so that the soil slopes gradually from the side down to 
the centre. By this means moisture is best conyeyed to 
the centre of ie ball of earth, which otherwise frequently 
remains dry, to the detriment of the roots. This should 
be well borne in mind when repotting. 
Again, in potting a plant, the condition of the soil will 
have to be taken into consideration. If it is too dry, 
repotting must not be undertaken. The soil must be 
moist without being wet. The pots must also be thoroughly 
clean and dry. No plant should be placed in a wet ora 
dirty pot. Where, therefore, washing has been resorted 
to, or new pots have been soaked, as they shonld be, 
they must be thoroughly dried before being used. Spring 
may safely be put down as the best time for repotting, 
as then it is that roots are most active. 
The best water for any purpose is pure rain water. 
Cold tap water should never be used. The next best 
thing to rain water is that from a stream or well. 
In towns, of course, this latter source of supply is not 
available, and the cultivator must then use tap- or pump- 
water. It should be kept in a large receptacle where 
the snn can shine upon it, and be brought to the 
requisite temperature by the addition of hot water, if 
necessary. 
A fairly good method of telling if water is needed is to 
strike the pot with the knuckles, and if a clear ringing 
sound is emitted, it may usually be assumed that water 
is needful, although sometimes the dull, heavy sound one 
connects with a plant having a sufficiency of water is 
given off if the roots are amply filling the space at their 
disposal. Palms are somewhat difficult subjects for 
the majority of amateurs to judge of, but if the 
foliage of the stont-textured species be flaccid and 
readily rolled, especially towards the apex, water is then 
badly needed. The rough-and-ready method previously 
suggested holds good least of all with Palms, for, as 
already has been stated, they shonld be restricted as 
regards root-room, and, therefore, even if dry, the ringing 
sound is less likely to be given off. 
The best time for watering depends upon the season: 
in the winter, morning shonld be selected, so long as 
