AXn THEIR MAXAGEMEXT. 259 



Habenaiia. 



raise the crown of the tuber to \\-ithin Jin. of the rim. 

 Next fill to about one-half the depth of the tuber with 

 small, clean crocks, on which should be placed a thin 

 layer of sphagnum. The remaining; space should be filled, 

 so that the tuber is just co\"ered, with the following com- 

 post ; One half should consist of good fibrous peat, loam, 

 and chopped sphagnum in equal proportions, and the 

 other ot finel_\- broken crocks and a liberal sprinkling of 

 rough siher-sand. The whole should be thoroughh* 

 mi.xed before using. When potting has been done, the 

 plants should be placed in a light position in the 

 sto\e, and be kept sufficientl_\- near the glass to pre- 

 vent them from being "drawn." The\' should then be 

 freel}- sprinkled \\ith a fine-rosed can, using slightly 

 chilled water. As growth advances, the plants will 

 require more pot-room. This should be done without 

 disturbing the existing potting compost more than is 

 realh" necessar)- : one shift should be sufficient for the 

 season. Large "sixties" \\\\\ be found ample for the 

 small-tubered kinds, but " fort\--eights " will be necessary 

 for the larger-gro\\ ing ones. For large pots the potting 

 compost should not be so fineh' broken as when the 

 smaller sizes are used. The tubers recjuirc onl}- a 

 moderate amount of water at the roots until they get 

 into full growth ; then a liberal supply must be provided, 

 and every inducement gixen to encourage their de\elop- 

 ment by atmospheric moisture ; slight overhead sj'ringings 

 will be found beneficial in bright weather. Care must be 

 taken to shade the plants from the bright scorching ra}-s 

 of the sun. Observation must be constantly kept for 

 such pests as Thrips and Red Spider, which attack the 

 leaves and centres of the growths, and quickly disfigure 

 the plants. Where these arc found, the house should be 

 fumigated, and the necessar)- steps taken for their 

 destruction. When the flowering .season is over, the plants 

 .should be allowed to die down or dry off naturall}-, and 

 stood on a dry shelf near the light, where they could be 

 kept under observation until the potting season comes 

 round. The stock may be increased by dividing the 

 tubers at the time of potting. 



Besides the stove species and varieties there are a 

 number of hard)- ones that would be interesting in a bog 



S 2 



