STOVE FOLIAGE PLANTS. 21 



in sand in a strong bottom-heat. Tall plants, with bare stems 

 and good heads, should be notched and mossed immediately 

 below the leaves ; and as soon as the moss is full of roots, take 

 off the tops and pot them with the moss intact, shading them 

 in a warm moist place till they are well established, and they 

 will soon make nice useful plants. 



FICUS. 



This genus provides many useful plants which are more or 

 less ornamental, the most noteworthy being F. ParcelU. As 

 an exhibition plant it is one of the most striking and attrac- 

 tive. It has also a good habit, and can with very little trouble 

 be grown into a symmetrical specimen. It requires an open 

 compost of loam and peat, and an abundance of water while 

 growing. It should be syringed often to prevent the attacks 

 of red spider, which is its worst enemy. It should be placed 

 near the glass, so that the ivory-white blotches may be well 

 broiTght out on the leaves. The strongest shoots must be 

 pinched, and the others tied into position where necessary, to 

 form a symmetrical well-furnished pyramid. As it approaches 

 the resting period, water should be gradually withheld, and 

 the plants placed in an intermediate temperature. 



HIBISCUS. 



The only one of this genus suitable for cultivation as a fine 

 foliage plant for exhibition is H. Coojieri. It forms a fuie 

 specimen, and in variety of colour it equals, if it does not 

 excel, any other foliage plant in cultivation. In its young state 

 it should be potted amongst fibry loam, peat, sand, and leaf- 

 mould, but when it has attained to a large size, soil of the 

 poorest description should be used in potting — starving it, as 

 it were, into colour. It requires a strong heat and a position 

 close to the glass to bring out the various rich colours in their 

 greatest perfection. 



MAEANTA. 



A genus of useful and easily cultivated plants ; but being 

 natives of moist warm regions, they require careful handling 



