Mapania 



( 53 ) 



Maranta 



Sea treed or Xelji. Where obtainable this is an 

 rxrc-llent manure for light soils. It suits both Beet 

 ami Asparagus especially well. 



Liijiiitl Manure. For pot plants particularly, 

 liquid manure is of the greatest service. Whatever 

 it is prepared from, it should be clear and free 

 from all sediment, otherwise the latter will form 

 a crust upon the surface of the soil, which, harden- 

 ing us it dries, will prevent aeration, and many of 

 the tender roots will suffer as a consequence. 

 Sheep droppings and cow manure make excellent 

 liquid if placed in a coarse canvas bag and soaked 

 for three or four days in a tub of water. Horse 

 droppings may also be treated thus, but the liquid 



MAKANTA MASSANGEANA. 



is rather strong in proportion to its depth of 

 colour. The liquid that has drained from the 

 farmyard manure heap may be watered down 

 until it is a light brown colour, and it then forms 

 an excellent stimulant for Roses, increasing the 

 vigour of the plants and putting more colour into 

 the flowers. Soot water may be prepared in a 

 similar way to liquid cow manure. Used at a 

 strength that gives it a light brown hue, it may 

 be applied with safety to almost all pot plants, 

 especially Chrysanthemums. 



Inorganic Manures. These are all of mineral 

 origin and include all the substances, with some 

 others, that are commonly spoken of as " artificial " 

 or " chemical " fertilisers. These have already 

 been treated under the heading of ARTIFICIAL 

 MANURES. 



MAPANIA. 



A genus (aril. Cyperacere) of stove perennial 

 herbs, some of which grow to a great height. 

 Only two species have, so far, been introduced, and 

 noil her of these is of any striking horticultural 

 value, but they are quite new to cultivation. They 

 may be treated in the same way, both for soil and 

 propagation, as the popular stove Cyperuses. 



Mapa, (ace Petireria). 



Principal Species : 



humilis, Ivs. 10" to 20" long, including petioles 

 (xt/nx. lucida, Wendlandii, and 1'andanophyllum 

 Wendlandii). 



MAPLE (see ACER). 



MARANTA. 



Stove herbaceous perennials (ord. Scitamineae), 

 with tuberous or creeping rhizomes and prettily 

 marked foliage. Several species are to be found 

 in ordinary collections of stove plants, although 

 the plant most favoured, zebrina, is a Maranta no 

 longer, but a Calathea. Economically, the genus 

 is likewise of some importance, for Arrowroot is 

 obtained from the tuberous rootstocks of several 

 of the species. 



Propagation. By division early in the year, just 

 as the plants show signs of starting. The cuts 

 should be made with a sharp knife, for bruising 

 causes subsequent decay. Pot the divisions into 

 small pots, with rather sandy soil, and plunge them 

 iu a close frame with bottom heat. As soon as 

 root action is vigorous, they may be removed to 

 the open stove. 



Soil. Two-thirds good loam, one-third leaf 

 mould, and enough sharp sand to keep the whole 

 friable. 



Other Cultural Points. The potting should only 

 be fairly firm, especially for young plants. Plenty 

 of water is needed at all times, and thus the 

 drainage must be free. Marantas also do well 

 planted out in prepared borders, the only danger 

 being rot in the winter, from a moisture-laden, 

 stagnant soil. Thrips and red spider are the chief 

 insect enemies. They may be destroyed by the 

 sponge, the use of which is very easy upon the 

 broad, stout leaves. As the flowers are not orna- 

 mental, they should be removed as soon as seen, 

 before they weaken the plants. 



Principal Species and Varieties: 



arundinacea, 0' to 10'. 



Indian Arrowroot. 

 variegata, Ivs. 10" to 



16" long, including 



petioles, striped gru., 



wh. 

 bicolor, 1', pale grn., 



spotted dark olive. Ma- 



koyana is a var. 

 Chantrieri, Ivs. 1' to 1J' 



long, greyish gru., 



baiided dark grn. 

 fascinator, dark grn., 



wh. upper surface, pur. 



lower, 

 major, 3', grn., good 



for house decoration 



(si/ n. Ichnosiphou leu- 



cophseus). 

 massangeana, olive gru., 



wh. veins (syn, Calathea 



massaugeaua, *cc 



figure), 

 sagoriana, pale grn., 



barred obliquely dark 



grn. 



Other Species and Varieties : 



albo-liueato (now Gala- coriifolia (now Calathea 



ornata). 

 depressa, 



thea albo-liueata). 

 umabilis (mjii. Calathea 



amabilis). 

 augustifolia (now Stro- 



nuintho Touckat). 

 argentea, silver grey, dark 



grn. 



osyminetrica, Ivs. one- 

 sided, 

 chimboracensis (n owCala- 



thca chimboracensis). 

 conciima (now Calathea 



leoptirdiua). 

 conspicua, dark gm., 



banded yel., gru. 



pale grn., 



blotched br. 

 gratiosa, silver grey, 



baiided dark gru. 

 icouifera, yel., grn., 



blotched deep gm. 

 kerchoveana (see leuco- 



ueura). 



Leona;, grn., grey, 

 leptostachya, grn., banded 



grn., wh. 

 leuconeura, 6" to 8", grn. 



above, pur. beneath 



(XIJHS. kerchoveaua, 



Mappa (nee Macaranga). 



Maraja 1'alm (nee Jiartris Maraja). 



