344 THE FLOBAL WOKLD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



Handsome wire structures are now prepared at low prices by 

 manufacturers of horticultural ornaments, and these, when made to 

 span path?, break angles, or heighten the interest of an object seen 

 through them, are extremely useful. There are all sorts of climbers 

 suitable for these arches, such as the aristolochia, clematis, ever- 

 green, and Boursault roses, creeper-vine, and many rapid-growing 

 and free-flowering annuals. 



(To be continued.) 



PHCENOCOMA PROLIFERUM. 



HIS is, perhaps, the most useful of the everlastings, and 

 also one of the most attractive of hardy greenhouse 

 plants. It is by no means a difficult plant to manage, 

 but somehow the majority of cultivators do no good 

 with it, for a fine specimen of it is rarely seen, except 

 where growers are within the influence of the metropolitan exhibi- 

 tions. The most probable cause of the many failures experienced 

 with this plant is, that it will not submit to the starving system 

 without losing its bottom leaves; and in order to counteract its 

 naturally B( mewhat thin and erect habit of growth, it must be 

 perseveringlv stopped, or cut back, as may be requisite to secure a 

 close bushy habit. Beginners should procure well-established strong 

 bushy plants, in five-inch pots, which will afford a fair opportunity 

 of producing handsome specimens, and will be a considerable saving 

 of time compared with obtaining young plants from cuttings. 

 Every care should be exercised, however, to secure well propagated, 

 vigorous, healthy plants; for there are many examples of this plant 

 in nurseries which are only fit for the rubbish heap. In March, 

 the plants should be examined at the root, and if the pot is tolerably 

 well filled with healthy active roots, give a moderate shift, using 

 prime rich fibry peat, broken up into small pieces, not larger than a 

 garden bean, carefully intermixed with about one-third its bulk of 

 clear sharp silver-sand, and some lumpy bits of charcoal. In potting, 

 use plenty of drainage well arranged, and be sure to have the ball, 

 etc., in a proper state as to moisture, and make the fresh soil rather 

 firm in the pot to prevent the water from passing iff too freely 

 through it. After potting, place it in the closest part of the green- 

 house, or in a pit which can be kept rather warmer than the ordinary 

 greenhouse, and give a very careful supply of water until the roots 

 Jay hold of the fresh soil. When growth becomes apparent after 

 potting, the shoots should be cut back as much as may appear 

 necessary to secure a close bushy growth, and after cutting back 

 they should be nicely tied out, keeping them us open as possible, in 

 order to admit light and air to the foliage. Keep the plant near the 

 glass and admit air freely on mild days, for there will be no gain in 

 keeping it close and warm, as this would tend to introduce thin 

 we:kL growth ; but secure a moist growing atmos] here, ard draw 

 the syringe lightly over the plant on the afteri oens of bright da^s. 



