34 STOVE AND GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 



DROSERA BINATA, the finest of all the Sundews, a native of Austra- 

 lia, growing about 1 foot in height, will succeed in a cool greenhouse. 

 Give soil same as recommended for Nepenthes, covering with live moss. 

 This is an exceedingly attractive plant for private greenhouses. In early 

 Spring the leaves catch myriads of male greenfly; and the plant may 

 be regarded as a friend of the horticulturist. 



DICHORIZANDRA THYRSIFLORA Of the Tradescantia family, and 

 usually grown as a stove plant. In this capacity, unless given abun- 

 dant root room, the flowers are not produced in abundance. South of 

 Philadelphia it may be used as a choice subject for the open border in 

 Summer. The flowers, of a rich dark blue and the stamens yellow, are 

 borne on the upright shoots of the current year's growth, which is about 

 2 feet in height. The flowering shoots may be cut in pieces, with a 

 single leaf to each if necessary, and rooted in the hot propagating bed. 

 They may be kept in a semi-dormant state during the Winter, as the 

 plants will form thick tuber-like roots. 



DIEFFENBACHIAS Some of the old plants of these ornamental aroids 

 will, by the end of Summer, have grown lanky, bending over the pots, 

 with only a few leaves terminating the stem. Take the tops off and put 

 them in the sand bed; lay the stems aside in a warm, airy place to dry 

 for three or four days, then cut them into lengths of about 2 inches. 

 Lay these aside to dry for a similar period, first rolling them in pow- 

 dered charcoal to lessen the danger of decay. Put in a box of nearly 

 dry sand, cover over about an inch and stand on the floor of a warm 

 house. When a few small leaves have been made to each sprout, pot in 

 a mixture containing at least one-third of its bulk of chopped sphagnum 

 moss; keep warm and moist. The tops, as soon as fairly well ro'oted, 

 should be potted, not in ordinary soil, but in a mixture of chopped 

 sphagnum, manure, leaf mould and sand. In this mixture the roots 

 fairly revel, provided a strong moist heat is given. In potting Dieffen- 

 bachias put them into as small pots as possible, and when a shift is 

 necessary they may be placed three together in a pot, making a well 

 furnished appearance in a comparatively short time. D. Baraquiniana, 

 Jenmanii, Veitchii, Bausei and grandis are among the best. They won't 

 stand much rough usage, being somewhat soft in the foliage; they are, 

 however, easily got up in quantity. 



ECHEVERIA (COTYLEDON) QIBBIFLORA flETALLICA takes a promi- 

 nent place among serviceable flowering plants during January and Feb- 

 ruary. It is one which is attractive either in or out of bloom, and its 

 cultivation is unattended by any serious difficulties. When done bloom- 

 ing, which will be in a short time, its propagation may be gone about 

 as follows: Takeoff the top of the main growth with as much stem 

 attached as will enable it, when rooted, to go 2 or 3 inches into the soil; 

 to root them, take as many 4-inch pots as there are tops, stand them 

 on the bench, put a little moss in the bottoms, and then place a cutting 

 in each; this will cause the cut part to callus over without the danger 

 of rotting. In a short time the stems will give out hair-like rootri, and 

 when these are from one-half to three quarters of an inch long, the cut- 

 tings may be potted, using soil on the dry side, and kept rather dry 



