Purslane 



( 250 



Pycnanthemum 



Only Species : 

 glandulosa, My., yel., 

 vvli., Ciuiiamon scented ; 

 close to trideutata. 



tridentata. 2' to 3', Jy., 

 hdy., yel. 



PURSLANE. 



The Purslane (Portnlaca oleracea) is a small 

 herb with fleshy shoots and leaves, sometimes used 

 upon the Continent as a salading, the older shoots 

 being employed as a potherb and also for pickling. 

 In this country Purslane is rarely grown, and its 

 use is practically unknown, save in a few country 

 places. It is a half-hardy annual, and may be 

 raised from seed sown in gentle heat under glass, 

 the seedlings being planted out at the end of May 

 in a warm corner of the garden, in much the same 

 way as Basil. (For other species, see PoKTULACA.) 



PUSCHKINIA. 



Two species of hardy or half-hardy bulbs (ord. 

 Liliacea;), of which only scilloides (gyn. libanotica) 

 is in cultivation. It is, however, a general favourite, 

 for it is not difficult to grow, and it flowers freely 

 and well each year. Propagation, by offsets. The 

 clumps of bulbs should be lifted, divided, and re- 

 planted about every three years. Annual lifting is 

 not necessary, and it is not desirable where effective 

 clumps are wished for. Soil, sandy loam three 

 parts and leaf mould one part, but as a rule the 

 plants will do in ordinary garden soil, unless it be 

 very heavy. For nooks in the rock garden, few 

 bulbs are better than Puschkinias, and they do 

 well in the herbaceous border, except that they are 

 apt to have the beauty of their flowers spoiled by 

 mud splashes in heavy rain. Although reputedly 

 hardy, it will be well to cover the clumps with 

 leaves or dry litter in winter. Slugs are very de- 

 structive of growths just pushing through. The 

 variety compacta makes a charming pot plant for 

 the greenhouse. It may be grown five or six bulbs 

 in a pot, but must be allowed to come along slowly_ 



Principal Species and its Variety : 



scilloides, 4" to 8", spr., Adamsia scilloides). 

 wh., striped pale bl., Striped Squill, 



about |" across (SI/HH. compacta, dwarf er, 

 libanotica, sicula, and flowers smaller and 

 more numerous (*//. 

 libanotica compacta ) . 



PUSS MOTH. 



The larva? of the Puss Moth (Dicranura vinula) 

 have to be numbered amongst the gardener's 

 enemies, for they attack the leaves of Willows and 

 Poplars, and, when present in quantities, do con- 

 siderable damage. These larva: are of peculiar 

 shape. The head is flat, the body is distinctly 

 humped, and the last pair of prolegs are developed 

 into a pair of long, curving horns, which are used 

 to battle with the ichneumon, its natural enemy. 

 The colour is green, with purple lines ; the head 

 is black. The full-fed larva; gnaw for themselves 

 hiding places in the bark of the trees which they 

 infest, spin cocoons, and pass the winter thus. 

 The moths emerge in June. They are nearly 3" 

 across the forewings, which are grey, while their 

 bodies are large, heavy, and also grey. There are 

 several other species, which, on account of their 

 resemblance to the Puss Moths and their smaller 

 size, are fancifully termed Kitten Moths. They 

 are bifida, the Poplar Kitten, which feeds upon 

 the Aspen and Poplars; furcula, the Sallow Kitten, 



Purslane Tree (see Portulacaria). 



which attacks Willows ; and biscuspis, the Alder 

 Kitten, which selects the Alder, Beech, and Birch. 

 Remedy, hand picking larva; and cocoons, with 

 their contained pup:v, and catching the moths. 



PUTORIA. 



Two or three species of dwarf, half-hardy, 



branching shrubs (ord. Rubiacea;). The generic 



i name suggests the strong smell characteristic of 



' the plants. Propagation, by root division in spring. 



j A light and warm, gravelly soil is best. 



Principal Species : 



calabrica, 6", Jy., red (xi/ns. Asperula calabrica 

 and Enodea montana). 



PUTTERLICKIA. 



Two species only of spiny greenhouse shrubs 

 (ord. Celastrineas). Propagation, by layers in 

 autumn. Soil, loam and peat in equal parts, with 

 one-sixth sand. 



Principal Species : 



pyracantha, 2' to 3', win., grn., pur. disc (xi/n. 

 Celastrus Pyracanthus of Botanical Mayazine 11 (>7). 



PUTTY. 



As a rule, only a bottom bedding of putty is now 

 employed in glazing greenhouses ; formerly both 

 top and bottom putty was used. Ordinary glazier's 

 putty is made of whiting, worked into a stiff 

 paste with linseed oil. It is creamy white in 

 colour, but after a few weeks' exposure to the air 

 dries to a dead white and sets hard. Red putty 

 may be made by mixing a little red lead with the 

 white putty ; it also sets hard. Old white putty 

 may be softened by mixing caustic potash to a 

 paste with water, and spreading it over the putty. 

 More than one application may be necessary. The 

 application of a hot iron to the putty holding the 

 pieces of a broken pane of gla^s will soften it, and 

 allow it to be cut out with comparative ease. 



PUYA (xyn. POURRETIA in part). 



According to Mr. J. G. Baker, this genus {ord. 

 Bromeliaceie) includes fourteen species. All are 

 stove or greenhouse perennial herbs, with spiny 

 leaves, and most of them with showy flowers. All 

 are easy to grow, although, so far, they have not 

 become general favourites. Propagation is by 

 suckers, which are freely produced by old plants, 

 and by seeds. Fibrous loam and peat, in equal 

 parts, with sand, suit for soil. Free drainage and 

 liberal supplies of water are other essentials. 



Principal Species : 



chilensis, stem 0' to 10' Agave-like. The affin- 



high, Jy., grh., Ivs. 3' ities of this plant are 



to 4' long, sword very uncertain, 



shaped, in a rosette lanuginosa, stem 2' to 3', 



(./. eoarctata). Oct., st. or grh., fini., 



gigantea, taller. bl., Ivs. 2' to 2.1' l<m^', 



gigas, wh. or ro., spikes sword shaped, 100 or 



18' to 20' high, Ivs. more in a rosette, very 



tufted, wh. beneath, spiny. 

 Some species are now referred to Pitcairnia. 



PYCNANTHEMUM (//*. HRAOHYSTE- 

 MCM, KOELLIA, and TULMA. MOUNTAIN 

 MINT). 



A genus (ord. Labiatse) of erect growing, hardy 

 perennials of little decorative value. Propagation, 

 by root division in spring. Any ordinary soil. 





