260 Encyclopaedia of Gardening 



loamy soil is desirable. Propagation is by seeds, cuttings of ripe 

 shoots under a bell-glass in a frame, or layers. 



Pistol Plant, Pilea muscosa. 



Pisum, Pea (pi-sum, from the Celtic pis. Ord. Leguminosae) . 

 Pisum sativum is the Green Pea. See Kitchen Garden. 



Pitcher Plant. See Nepenthes. 



Pits. See Greenhouse. 



Plane, Platanus (plat-anus, from platys, broad. Ord. Platana- 

 ceae). One of the most useful of trees, owing to the fact that it 

 thrives so well in the smoke of towns. On this account it has been 

 planted more extensively than any other tree in large cities. What 

 is called the London Plane is P. acerifolia, i.e., the Maple-leaved 

 Plane ; Suttneri is a variety of it with deeply cut leaves. P. occi- 

 dentalis is the Western and P. orientalis the Eastern Plane. There 

 are variegated forms of each. The Plane sheds its bark in winter. 

 It is not particular as to soil, and is of naturally good habit, needing 

 little pruning to keep it in shape. Trees may be planted from 

 November to March inclusive, and should be well staked. See 

 Flower Garden. 



Plantain, Plantago (planta-go. Ord. Plantagineae) . A trouble- 

 some weed, especially when it gets established on a lawn. It has 

 long, fleshy roots, and breaking off the leaves is not much use unless 

 a little vitriol or sulphuric acid is dropped into the heart afterwards. 

 It is well to spud them out as fast as they appear, and then sprinkle 

 on a little fresh grass and clover seed. 



Plantain Lily. See Funkia. 



Planting. See Fruit, etc. 



Plasmodiophora. The fungus that causes club-root (anbury) in 

 Green vegetables, and " finger-and-toes " in Turnips. See Kitchen 

 Garden. 



Platanus. See Plane. 



Platycerium, Stag's-horn Fern (platyce-rium, from platys, broad, 

 and keras, a horn. Ord. Filices). Handsome and distinct warm 

 greenhouse ferns, with bold fronds, well suited to culture in sus- 

 pended pans. The receptacle should be half filled with crocks, and 

 the roots packed in with a mixture of fibrous peat and Sphagnum 

 moss, lightened with sand, charcoal, and crocks treatment that 

 reminds one of Orchids. They like abundance of water. Propa- 

 gation is by spores or buds on the roots. P. alcicorne, with twice or 

 thrice-forked fronds, is the common Elk's Fern; Hillii and majus 

 are varieties of it. Grande is a fine species. 



Platycodon, Chinese Bellflower (platyco-don, from platys, broad, 

 and kodon, a bell. Ord. Campanulaceae) . The only species, grandi- 

 florum (syn. Campanula grandiflora Botanical Magazine, t. 252), 

 is a fine Campanula-like plant, growing about a foot high, with large 

 blue flowers in summer. It is a hardy herbaceous perennial, suit- 

 able for the front of the border, and liking a friable soil. Propaga- 

 tion is by seed or division in spring. There are several varieties, of 

 which Mariesii is one of the best ; there is a white form of it. 



