GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY PLANTS 121 



Propagation. The method of increase is by cutting the roots 

 in pieces 2 or 3 inches long. The operation may be performed any 

 time late in Fall, or very early in Spring. The roots should be put 

 in boxes of soil and started into growth in a greenhouse about the 

 beginning of March. When potted they may be put in a coldframe 

 early. (See also page 295.) 



FELICIA (Agathsea. Blue Daisy). A cool, greenhouse, low- 

 growing shrub with blue, Daisy-like flowers produced principally 

 in Winter. 



Culture. Grown like the Cineraria or, if propagated from 

 Spring cuttings, like a Chrysanthemum. It will stand full sun at 

 all seasons. 



Propagation. Cuttings should be taken from the soft wood in 

 Fall and Spring and wiU flower quickly. 



FICUS. Ficus elastica (Rubber Plant) is one of the most popu- 

 lar house plants, and one of the most suitable for this purpose. The 

 leaves are large and leathery and not easily hurt through occasional 

 neglect. Complaints are sometimes made of plants losing their 

 lower leaves; in old plants this is natural, as evergreen plants have 

 their season of leaf shedding. Young plants will lose leaves through 

 insufficient or too much moisture or lack of nourishment. F. pan- 

 durata has distinctive fiddle-shaped or banjo-shaped leaves, often a 

 foot long. It is quite widely grown. F. repens is a trailing sort useful 

 for the walls of the conservatory or as a house plant. 



Culture. Due to the fact that this is a very tough and thrifty 

 plant, its culture is very easy. It can be grown very well both as a 

 house plant and as a conservatory plant with very little care. 



Propagation. For stock plants indoors reserve a place at 

 the end of a warm house for large, over-grown plants. They 

 make quicker growth indoors during the warm months than 

 they do outside, and for the purposes of single-eye cuttings, the wood 

 is preferable, as the spaces between the leaves are longer. They 

 should be planted in a solid bed. If the old soil be unsuitable re- 

 move it to a depth of about 18 inches; put some broken brick, 

 chnkers or stones in the bottom for drainage, some old leaves on top 

 of this, and fill up with rich, porous soil. Plant moderately close to- 

 gether, pruning back those which require it; with a few good stock 

 plants a plentiful supply of growth for cuttings, or for mossing, will 

 be the result. The Rubber when well grown can always be de- 

 pended upon as a ready selling plant. 



