138 PLANT CULTURE 



Eenryana, N. Williamsii, N. Oulramiana, N. Siebrechtii and 

 N. Amesiana are all well worth growing. 



Culture. Nepenthes are very suitable for suspending from the 

 roof of a greenhouse, as then the curiously-shaped appendages, or 

 "pitchers," at the ends of the leaves are best seen. Moreover, some 

 of the kinds have long leaves, and when the pitchers are half filled 

 with liquid they hang lower than the base of the pot or basket. In 

 this case the plants must be suspended from the roof. Their cultiva- 

 tion, with the exception of a few species, is not difficult. There are 

 between 30 and 40 species, found principally in the East Indian 

 Islands. The temperature should not fall below 65 degrees at any 

 time of the year, and from this it may rise to 90 degrees with safety. 

 At all times, these plants should be grown with as little ventilation 

 as possible, as under those conditions growth will be more vigor- 

 ous and a heavier crop of pitchers will be the result. 



Pruning is a very important matter in their cultivation. With 

 the possible exception of N. bicalcarala, none of the kinds should be 

 allowed to grow over a foot high. When a few pitchers have been 

 formed, or are forming on a shoot, cut the end out; this will very 

 materially help in the development of those in process of formation, 

 and will cause new shoots to burst out on which more pitchers will 

 be borne. The material in which to grow Nepenthes should consist 

 of fibrous peat and sphagnum in equal parts. Charcoal, crushed 

 bone and sand in small quantities may be added. During the grow- 

 ing season the plants must never be allowed to get dry at the roots. 

 One- and two-year-old specimens are the most satisfactory, although 

 some of the kinds will keep in good condition as long as they have 

 good material in which to make fresh roots. Shade during bright 

 sunshine, and syringe frequently. The sexes are on different plants, 

 and so far as I have observed all the species and varieties will inter- 

 cross. 



Propagation. Seeds are sown on a finely prepared surface of 

 chopped moss, covered with glass. As soon as they can be handled 

 the seedlings are pricked off in small pots. Cuttings should be taken 

 from the half -ripened shoots about the beginning of December; they 

 should be cut to single eyes only when a large number of plants are 

 wanted. Terminal growths, short and stocky, make the finest 

 plants, and in a much shorter time than single-eye cuttings. In a 

 propagating frame, with a bottom heat of 80 degrees, plunge the 

 cuttings in sphagnum; they may be either pushed through the hole 

 of an inverted thumb pot or put in small pots, using a rooting me- 



