STOVE AND GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 19 



Some of the gaudy-flowered greenhouse kinds, such as Cereus flagelli- 

 formis, C. speciosissimus, and the much admired night bloomers C. 

 grandiflorus and C. Macdonaldiae, when in good condition, so far as the 

 drainage and soil in the pot are concerned, may be plunged in a sunny 

 spot out-of-doors, where they will make growth much superior to that 

 attained in the greenhouse. If the plants are in good health wet sea- 

 sons will do them no harm. 



CALATHEA— Usually known as Marantas. They are grown solely for 

 their ornamental fohage, nearly all of the species having beautiful 

 markings. It is doubtful if any other genus shows greater variation in 

 this respect. Most of the kinds are stove plants, growing in shade all 

 the year round, with a minimum temperature of 60 degrees. They need 

 an abundance of water at all times. In Winter, when the benches are 

 apt to get dry quickly, the pots should stand on a layer of sphagnum 

 moss. Some of the species will succeed in a temperate house, and a few 

 of the stove kinds may be subjectea to a lower temperature, without 

 injury, after they have made their growth. Some of the best-known 

 stove kinds are as follows: C. Baraquiniana, C. bella, C. fasciata, C. 

 Kerchoviana, C. Lindeniana, C. Makoyana, C. albo-liueata, C. rosea- 

 picta, C. spleudida, C. zebrina, and C. Veitchiana. Those which maybe 

 grown cooler are C. tubispatha, a species which loses its leaves and 

 goes to rest for the Winter; C. illustris, C. Leitzei, C. Massangeana, C, 

 pulchella and C. intermedia. The last two resemble C. zebrina in the 

 upper portions of the leaves, but the inferior margins are almost green. 

 None of the species should be allowed to flower, as this only weakens 

 the plants; and seed is not necessary, as they all divide very freely. Dur- 

 ing the growing season, if drained thoroughly, they can hardly be over- 

 watered. 



Propagation— Calatheas, which are freshly divided, should not be 

 potted in fresh soil until new roots have been formed. This condition 

 may be brought in the following manner: Knock the plants out of the 

 pots before growth commences; wash ;the soil from among the roots; 

 prune out those not wanted, and divide into clumps, not too small, say 

 large enough to go into a 5-inch pot, and put in the propagating bed. 

 Let the air be close and moist, and the glass shaded. When a few fresh 

 roots have been formed they take very quickly with the soil after 

 potting. 



CALCEOLARIA— The Calceolaria, both shrubby and herbaceous, is as 

 well known in western Europe as the Zonal Pelargonium in America. 

 The shrubby kinds are there much used in bedding, producing very 

 gaudy effects. They delight in a cool, moist atmosphere, and our hot 

 Summers make short work of them. The herbaceous hybrids are raised 

 from seeds sown about the month of August. The seeds are very small 

 and should be sown on the surface of the soil and pressed down, cover- 

 ing with glass until the seed leaves can be seen. At all times the plants 

 require a cool, airy spot when in the greenhouse. From the seedling 

 stage until the plants are likely to get hurt by frost they should be kept 

 in a frame. Greenfly is their greatest insect enemy, and must be pre- 

 vented from gaijiing a foothold on them by fumigation, Several of the 



