THE INDIA RUBBER PLANT. 



^^ICUS ELASTICA (the India 

 ==:: ^ rubber plant), is popular as a 

 decorative plant for rooms and 

 windows, as a good specimen 

 from one to three feet high, with thick 

 stem and dark rich green glossy leaves, 

 presents an attractive appearance. With 

 proper treatment they remain some time 

 in this condition, and if grown in a cool 

 shady room the plants succeed better 

 than in a dry and heated atmosphere. 

 One point which helps to maintain 

 them healthy is frequent sponging the 

 leaves so as to free them from dust. 

 This is an easy matter with Ficus 

 elastica Both sides of the leaves 

 should be sponged, using soapy water. 

 The most likely insect to attack the 

 leaves is that little black insidious pest 

 known as thrips, which soon does 

 damage. 



The growth of Ficus elastica has the 

 tendency to extend as one stem only, 

 and very handsome plants are formed 

 while they remain within a length of 

 four feet. Young stock may, however, 

 be topped at an early stage, and this 

 will cause lateral growths to break, two 

 or three of which can be allowed to ex- . 

 tend for forming plants of a more bushy 

 habit. This is chiefly a matter of taste, 

 and adapted in cases where numbers of 

 plants are grown. 



Suitable sized plants may be grown 

 in from five to eight-inch pots. These 

 are useful for room and window decora- 

 tion, and for the side stages in the con- 

 servatory. Turfy loam, leaf soil, sand 

 and charcoal, with the addition of a 

 little peat, form an excellent compost. 

 Plants that have been growing freely 

 the last few months may now require a 



shift so that they will become established 

 before winter and the pots filled with 

 roots. Pot firmly, making the fresh 

 material as substantial as the ball of 

 roots. The pots ought to be clean and 

 well drained. 



Watering is not a difficult matter with 

 these plants, but it is often mismanaged 

 in the case of house plants What is 

 wanted is regular attention, not exactly 

 at stated periods, but some time every 

 day or every other day. Apply water 

 in sufficient quantity to pass right 

 through the ball of roots, and wait until 

 more is needed. Just after potting one 

 good watering will suffice for some time, 

 but when the pots are becoming well 

 occupied with roots water is needed 

 oftener. A fairy light, but not a sunny 

 position, suits the India rubber plant 

 best, and if the house or window is hot, 

 shade should be afforded during the 

 hottest portion of the day, Sour soil 

 caused through errors in watering is the 

 chief cause of the lower leaves turning 

 yellow before they ought to do. It is 

 natural .for the lower leaves to fall, but 

 when they do so the leaf-stalk separates 

 readily from the stem. 



Another course which will throw the 

 plants into bad health is allowing them 

 to become very dry when the pots are 

 full of roots. If temporarily this should 

 occur, the best course to rectify it is to 

 plunge the plant into lukewarm water in 

 order to moisten the soil and roots com- 

 pletely. When well-established and 

 growing freely cool treatment is the best, 

 but in spring, after repotting, or when 

 propagating, heat and moisture are 

 essential for encouraging new growth. — 

 Journal of Horticulture. 



406 



