THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 120 



POINSETTIA PULCHERFJMA. 



|HIS elegant stove plant, which flowers with large heads of 

 bracts of the most brilliant crimson at the end of the 

 shoots, ranging from four to twelve inches in diameter, 

 is so easy of cultivation, that it should be grown by all 

 who have the command of stove heat. It is cultivated 

 largely by nurserymen for the London markets, and the method 

 adopted by them for its cultivation is sufficiently simple as to be 

 readily understood by any amateur. It is invaluable for decorative 

 purposes, its elegant crowns of crimson bracts, mixed with ferns, 

 palms, and other foliage plants, being wonderfully effective, showing 

 well under artificial light ; and as it flowers at a time when bloom is 

 scarce/it renders assistance in the filling of vases and epergnes at a 

 time of year when such methods of decoration are in request. 



A stock of Poinsettias may easily be obtained, as from one nicely 

 established plant several may be obtained, by striking cuttings in 

 March or April, for which purpose the old plant should be started 

 into growth at the end of February or the beginning of March, bv 

 being placed in a warm corner of the stove and moderately watered, 

 when the new growth will soon appear. Cuttings of the new shoots 

 of three or four joints are the best : these must be put in pans filled 

 with sand, and placed in a heat of about 70°. A hot-bed prepared for 

 cucumbers will answer very well, keeping them rather drier than 

 cuttings in heat are generally kept, but do not let them flag, as they 

 must receive no check from the first. When rooted, place them on 

 the tank or in the hot-bed again. 



A succession of cuttings may also be made in May, July, and 

 August. The summer temperature should be 65° to 90°. For 

 plants with single stems the cuttings should be gradually shifted on 

 until they are put into six-inch pots, or if large specimens are 

 required four or rive cuttings may be placed at once into three-inch 

 pots and then gradually repotted as more root space is required until 

 they are in eight-inch pots. They should be shifted immediately the 

 pots are filled with roots, until they receive their final shift, as 

 becoming pot-bound in the eariier stages of their growth is most 

 injurious to them. To grow them well they should be in a moist 

 atmosphere and receive plenty of moisture at the roots. Dryness at 

 the roots will almost invariably be followed by the falling of a large 

 portion of the foliage. They do not require shade, and will bear a 

 high temperature without injury, but abundance of air must be 

 allowed them when exposed to the brilliant summer sunshine, or the 

 leaves may be scorched. It is not advisable to strike the cuttings too 

 early, as the young plants are apt to be drawn up and become leggy ; 

 but if struck too late, they may not bloom as early as required, which 

 is usually about Christinas. A good compost for the cultivation of 

 Poinsettias may be prepared by mixing weil together equal parts of 

 turly loam, leaf-mould, fibrous peat, and silver saud, and the simplest 

 plan of cultivation is to allow the plants to grow to their full height 

 and flower as they please. 



May. 9 



