ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GARDENING. 
CULTURE: Compost, equal parts fibrous loam & leaf-mould & half a 
part silver sand. Pot, Feb. or March. Position, well-drained pots in 
partially-shaded part of stove. Prune into shape immediately after 
towering. Water copiously, April to Sept., moderately afterwards. 
Syringe twice daily, March to Oct., once afterwards. Temp., March to 
Sept. 70° to 85°; Sept. to March 60° to 70°. Propagate by cuttings ot 
firm shoots, 2 to 3in. long, inserted in sand under bell-glass in temp. 
75° to 85° in summer. 
i eae CULTIVATED: P. grandiflora, white, June, fragrant, 8 to 10 ft., W. 
ndies. 
Portugal Broom (Cytisus albus).—See Cytisus. 
Portugal Laurei (Prunus lusitanica)—See Prunus. : 
Portulaca (Purslane; Sun Plant)—Ord. Portulacacee. Hardy 
& half-hardy annual flowering & edible-leaved plants. _ Leaves of Purs- 
lane form an excellent summer salading. First introduced 1582. 
CULTURE OF HALF-HARDY ANNUAL SPECIES: Soil, good 
ordinary. Position, sunny rockeries, raised beds or borders. Sow 
seeds thinly on surface of light sandy soil in well-drained pot, box, 
or pan, lightly cover with fine soil & place in temp. 65 in March. 
Transplant seedlings when three leaves formed singly into 2-in. pots, 
gradually harden off, & plant outdoors end of May. Water in dry 
weather. Plant 3in. apart each way. 
POT CULTURE: Compost, equal parts loam, leaf-mould, & coarse 
silver sand. Raise plants from seeds as advised above. Transplant 
seedlings lin. apart in 5-in. pots, well-drained & filled with above com- 
post. Grow near glass in temp. 55° to 65°. Water freely. Apply 
weak stimulants when in flower. 
CULTURE OF PURSLANE: Soil, light, rich ordinary. Position, 
sunny well-drained borders. Sow seeds thinly broadcast, middle of 
April, lightly rake in and keep well watered. To ensure a succession, 
sow at intervals of a month up to Aug. Gather shoots when 2 to 3in. 
long, cutting them off close to the ground. 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: P. grandiflora (Sun Plant), yellow and purple, 6 in., 
Brazil; grandiflora compacta, various colours; oleracea (Purslane), June, 6 in., 
Tropical Regions; Thellusonii, scarlet, June, 8 to 12 in., Tropics. 
Posoqueria. — Ord. Rubiacew. Stove evergreen flowering 
shrubs. First introduced 1815. 
CULTURE: Compost, one part loam, one part peat, one part well- 
decayed manure & charcoal. Position, well-drained pots, or beds in 
plant stove. Pot or plant, Feb. or March. | Prune into shape, Feb. 
or March. Temp., March to Sept. 65° to 85°; Sept. to March 55° to 
65°. Water moderately, Oct. to Feb., frecly afterwards. Syringe 
daily (except when in bloom) March to Sept. Apply liquid manure 
occasionally to healthy plants in flower. Plants one to two years old 
produce the best blooms. Propagate by cuttings of firm young side 
shoots, 2 to 3 in. long inserted in well-drained pots of sandy peat under 
bell-glass in temp. 75° to 85°, Jan. to April. 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: P. formosa, white, fragrant, summer, 10 ft., Venezuela; 
fragrantissima, white, fragrant, summer, 8 to 10 ft., Brazil; latifolia, white, 
Oct., 6 ft., Trop. America. 
Potato (Solanum tuberosum).—See Solanum. 
Potato Onion (Allium cepa ageregalum).—See Allium. 
Potato-tree (Solanum crispum).—See Solanum. 
Potato Vine (Ipomea pandurata).—See Ipomeza. 
Potentilla (Cinquefoil), — Ord. Rosacea. Hardy herbaceous 
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