218 Cultivation and Propagation of Nepenthes. 



information, the Magazine of Horticulture, which every 

 lover of fine flowers and fine fruits, ought to read. 



The most suitable situation for pitcher plants is an orchid 

 house, in which air and moisture are well attended to, and 

 where the temperature ranges from 55° to 60° at night. 

 Pitcher plants, like epiphytial orchids, sufi'er greatly from 

 stagnant moisture, more especially when the temperature is 

 allowed to get low. They flourish in a warm, moist at- 

 mosphere, which should be kept constantly, but slowly, in 

 motion, and entirely free from sudden changes, or strong cur- 

 rents of cold air. It will, in general, be found that, if pitcher 

 plants are placed next the entrance to the house, where there 

 is a fresh supply of air put in motion every time the door is 

 opened, they will flourish much better there than if placed in 

 a more confined part of the house. They also like a good 

 supply of heat and moisture to their roots. They do not 

 thrive under the close glass cases often employed in their 

 culture ; these can only be used with advantage when the 

 temperature and moisture of the atmosphere are subjected to 

 great variations, or when the plants are not well established 

 in their pots, in which cases it is absolutely requisite to keep 

 them quite close. 



Pitcher plants grow best potted in an equal mixture of sphag- 

 num (or bog moss,) chopped very small, and the fresh fibre of 

 rough peat, entirely freed from the finer particles. The pots 

 should be well drained, and the material pressed firmly down ; 

 they should afterwards be plunged in moss, over a bottom 

 heat of from 70 to 80°, and in an atmosphere ,well supplied 

 with moisture. The moss in Avhich the pots are plunged 

 should also be well supplied with water. 



The diff'erent species of Nepenthes are increased either by 

 cuttings, layers, or seeds. When the cuttings are employed, 

 the young shoots or offsets, when a few inches in height, 

 which are produced from the base of the old stem, should be 

 selected ; they should be potted singly, in rather large pots, 

 well drained and filled with the above mentioned material, 

 ])lunging them in damp moss, in a bottom heat of 80°, and 

 covering with a bell glass. 



