632 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



Cephalotus follicularis is a most desirable, easily cultivated, 

 and always interesting little subject, and it cannot be too highly 

 recommended to the notice of amateurs ; in fact, all in 

 possession of a greenhouse where a temperature of 45deg. to 

 5odeg. can be maintained in winter may grow it successfully. 

 In summer and during the growing season it requires a temperature 

 of about ssdeg., as then it usually makes its leaves and pitchers. 

 During the warm months there is very little difficulty in maintaining 

 a desirable growing temperature. These plants require a fairly 

 light position to enable them to properly develop the colour of 

 the pitchers, but care must be observed to protect them from 

 the direct rays of the sun during the hottest parts of the day, or 

 they are liable to become scalded. A humid atmosphere is its 

 chief requirement. The best way to ensure this condition is to 

 employ an ordinary bell-glass to cover 

 the plants. Moisture is thus drawn up 

 from the potting compost and condenses 

 on the glass and around the plants. 

 Under such conditions the plants are 

 easily grown and always form objects 

 of interest and admiration even to those 

 least interested in horticulture. 



The potting compost should consist 

 of one part chopped sphagnum and 

 two ■ parts peat and rough sand or 

 finely-broken crocks. The crocks are 

 necessary, as the plants require a liberal 

 amount of water, and it is desirable to 

 keep the compost in as open a con- 

 dition as possible, so that there may be 

 no stagnation about the roots. The 

 pots (small "sixties" are usually large 

 enough) should be clean and liberally 

 drained. The crown of the plants 

 should be kept slightly above the rim of the pot, and the 

 compost mounded up to it and made moderately firm about 

 the roots. 



Early spring and just before active growth commences is the 

 best time to repot the plants ; after this operation I find it an 

 advantage to plunge the pot to the rim in another pot sufficiently 

 large to take the bell-glass comfortably inside its rim, filling up 

 the lower space with crocks and making up the surface with 

 chopped living sphagnum, which quickly commences to grow, pro- 

 ducing a nice effect, and assisting also in providing the humid 

 conditions necessary for. suqcessful culture. After the plant 

 has been plunged, it is desirable to give it a thorough soaking 

 with soft rain-water, and then to cover it with the bell- 

 glass. It will not require more moisture for several days, but 



Fig. 408. — Darlingtonia 

 californica. 



