174 GREENHOUSE MANAGEMENT. 



small pot half full of fibrous peat, or sphagnum, and 

 after the cuttings have been placed upon it, filling the 

 pots with sand and plunging in a hotbed or propagat- 

 ing case. As soon as rooted, they should, be repotted in 

 a mixture of fibrous peat, rotten sods and sand. Thor- 

 ough drainage is desirable, but the atmosphere can 

 hardly be kept too moist, as the leaves expand ; if the 

 air is allowed to become dry, the leaves will be shrivelled 

 and imperfect. 



During the resting period, in winter, the tempera- 

 ture may drop to 60 or b5 degrees, but while making 

 their growth they like a temperature of 75 or 80 degrees. 

 When properly grown, they will be but little trouble, 

 but they should be carefully watched that the mealy 

 bug does not gain a foothold. 



The most desirable species of these plants are 

 Sphwrogyne latifolia and Cyajiophyllum magnificum. The 

 foliage of the former has a particularly unique appear- 

 ance, owing to a well-marked network that extends over 

 the leaves. 



MARANTAS AND CALATHEAS. 



The genus Maranta formerly contained a large 

 number of desirable stove plants, but most of them have 

 now been placed in the genus Calathea. However, as 

 they require about the same care, they can be treated 

 together. The plants have tuberous or creeping rhi- 

 zomes, and one species yields the arrow root of com- 

 merce. Although most of the species can be readily 

 propagated by dividing the plants, the long rhizomes 

 can also be made into cuttings. If cut up into pieces 

 two inches in length, and these are placed in moist 

 sphagnum in a hotbed or propagating case, the dor- 

 mant eyes will each throw out shoots. These can be 

 separated, rooted and potted off the same as any cutting. 



The Maranta thrives in a loose, rich, moist soil, 

 composed of rotten sods or leaf mold, peat and sandy 



