206 CULTURE OF TROPCBOLUM TRICOLORUM. 



tobacco water. In order to keep the plant free from the red spider, I 

 have it often syringed at the under side of the leaves ; the red spider 

 bites the foliage, aud causes it to become disfigured by whitish spots; 

 if not checked at first, the insects rapidly increase and spread over 

 the plant, and will soon destroy it. I avoid syringing it in damp 

 weather, for the foliage would be injured. The plants thus treated, 

 bloom profusely to the end of autumn. 



When the plant ceases growing and blooming, I withhold water 

 from it, gradually declining the quantity given, till it is in a state to 

 be kept dry till the return of spring. I do not take the tuber out of 

 the soil it had grown in, but retain it therein till the time of repot- 

 ting in Spring. I keep the tubers in winter in the cool part of the 

 back shed, free from frost, but not liable to excite them to push. 



With the above treatment I have had a plant ten feet high, pro- 

 ducing thousands of blossoms. The plant deserves a situation in 

 every greenhouse in the kingdom. I find it also answers well for 

 culture in the light room of a dwelling, allowing it air at all conve- 

 nient opportunities. 



The plant is easily increased by seeds, and young cuttings about 

 three inches long strike freely in sand, if placed in a hotbed frame. 



T. pentaphyllum. — This plaut I find to grow freely if allowed a 

 large degree of pot-room, and to be kept in a very airy place in the 

 greenhouse. I find it to do still better, to turn it out, if the plant 

 he moderately strong, into the open border in a warm situation. I 

 have a plant at the front of a greenhouse that is trained to three 

 stakes, and densely covers them to the height of nine feet, having 

 many thousands of flowers. 



The soil is a good rich loam and peat, half a yard deep, upon a 

 gravelly substratum; I have supplied it freely with water during dry 

 seasons. 



At the end of November the top generally dies, I cut it off near to 

 the ground, and cover the same with some dry straw chaff, this is 

 laid six inches deep, over this I place a large milk panshion which 

 shoots off all wet, keeps the root dry, as well as contributes to keep it 

 from injury by frost. At the return of spring the tuber pushes freely, 

 and during the months from July to November, is a perfect picture 

 of beauty and interest. 



I have not had occasion to renew the soil of the border where the 

 plant has grown four seasons, but when it is indicated necessary by 

 the condition of the plant. I shall take away the old soil at Spring, 

 nearly to the tuber, replace it by fresh loam and peat, but not to dis- 

 turb the tuber at all. 



