FICUS ELASTICA 



BY 



WM. HUNT 



THE Ficus elastica, or Rubber plant 

 as it is commonly called, is without 

 doubt one of the best and most en- 

 during of decorative plants, either for the 

 greenhouse or the more trying conditions 

 that exist in a window or room of a dwell- 

 ing house. Although its habit of growth is 

 not as graceful as many well known house 

 plants, such as palms, aspidistra, etc., the 

 thick leathery leaves of this Ficus will often 

 retain their bright glossy appearance for a 

 much longer period than most varieties of 

 house plants including those just mentioned, 

 even under more adverse treatment. The 

 propagation of the rubber-plant is, however, 

 the most difficult problem for the amateur 

 plant grower to solve, in connection with 

 its culture. Large plants have frequently 

 to be cut back in order to secure a more 

 shapely plant, or to keep its strong growing 

 branches within reasonable bounds. It is 

 seldom however, that the growth taken from 

 an ill-shaped plant is successfully propa- 

 gated. A description of some of the me- 

 thods usually adopted by florists in the pro- 

 pagation of the Ficus will perhaps be accept- 

 able to readers of the Horticulturist, who 

 may perhaps have a plant that may require 

 cutting back so as to make it more shapely 

 and symmetrical looking. The pruning or 

 cutting back does not injure the plant unless 

 cut back too severely, as it soon breaks into 

 into new growth again if not cut back too 

 far into the old wood. Even in the latter 

 case it is only a question of time before it 

 starts into growth again. 



Mossing Cuttings. — This method of moss- 

 ing partially severed cuttings of the Ficus, 



is probably the best and surest method of 

 propagation for the amateur to attempt. 

 For the operation of mossing, a fairly stro.ng 

 and healthy branch or shoot should be se- 

 lected. One or two of the leaves should 

 first be cut away at the place selected for 

 the base of the cutting. The selection of 



Fig. 2368. 

 ficus cuiting showing incision. 



the part of the branch that is to form ihe 

 base of the cutting is an important point to- 

 ward being successful in the cutting tak- 

 ing root, as the wood must not be too old 

 and hard, or too soft and pulpy. Usually, 

 the wood is in a suitable condition about 

 ten or twelve inches from the terminal point 



