PEPEEOMIA. 279 



Pepeeomu. 



A genus wliicli until lately has been very much neglected. 

 Since, however, public taste has so much improved, and 

 the beautiful markings of leaves, as well as flowers, can 

 make an impression upon om- better feelings, many plants 

 have been introduced to our gardens, and highly appre- 

 ciated there, which a few years ago would have found no 

 abiding place. Amongst such are several species of the 

 family now under consideration. The interest attached to 

 this order {Piperaoece) in an economic and commercial 

 point of view is very great, but that we shall pass over, 

 and devote our remarks to it in a horticultural point of 

 view only. The species and varieties of Peperomia here 

 given are easily grown, and they are elegant plants, which 

 may be brought from the stove and placed in vases, for 

 the temporary decoration of the sitting-room, as their 

 stout succulent leaves enable them to successfully with- 

 stand the change from a moist to a dry atmosphere. They 

 should be grown in good fibrous peat and loam, adding 

 some silver sand, and must be kept in rather small pots, 

 giving a liberal supply of water during summer, but less 

 in winter, though they must not be kept quite dry at any 

 season. They are increased by cuttings, and by seed 

 when it can be obtained ; from the latter fresh forms of 

 variegation may be looked for, and this is a poiat well 

 deserving the attention of the amateur cultivator. 



P. arifolia argyrcea. — ^Another very handsome plant, and 

 one which, on account of its compact habit, can be grown 

 in the most limited ■ collection, as it seldom exceeds eight 

 or ten incbes in height. The footstalks, which are deep 

 red, support its handsome obicular or ovate leaves, which, 

 when well grown, measure about five inches in length ; 



