ON STOVE PLANTS. 



663 



umbel on a scape about gin. high. Propagate by offsets, and 

 grow in rich fibrous loam, inserting the bulb to about two- 

 thirds of its depth. Give very little water when not growing. 



ViNCA. — The stove species and varieties of this genus are erect 

 evergreen herbs, with opposite leaves, from the East Indies. 

 Propagate from cuttings in spring, and grow on in three parts of 

 fibrous loam, one part peat, one part manure, and a little sand. 

 Pinch the points of the shoots to make them branch, and tie 

 into a nice shape. Vincas flower from May to October. Keep 

 rather dry in winter, to allow the plants a period of rest. The 

 old plants may be cut back and repotted in the spring, removing 

 most of the old soil with a pointed stick. V. rosea has rose- 

 coloured flowers with a purple eye ; V. alha is white with a 

 yellowish eye ; and K a. oculata, white with a crimson eye. 



Vriesias (now included under the genus Tillandsid) are plants 

 of great beauty, and thrive under the treatment recommended 

 for .-Echmeas. To induce them to flower, give them a season of 

 rest by standing them on a shelf and keeping them drier at the 

 root : then excite them into growth by plunging the pots in a 

 brisk bottom-heat, and water freely with weak manure-water. 

 V. brachystachys and V. psittacina are particularly handsome. 



An extended list of Flowering Plants will be found in the 

 " Appendix." 



Ornamental Foliage Plants. 



Among the denizens of the stove-house we have a great 

 choice of plants with attractive foliage, which are interesting 

 all the year round. Many, too, are valued for their suit- 

 ability for dwelling-house and conservatory decoration ; while 

 as exhibition plants they are especially popular at the present 

 time, both for showing in groups and for mixing with flowering 

 plants. Anyone who has seen the noble groups staged at the 

 Royal Horticultural Society's annual flower show in the Inner 

 Temple Gardens can appreciate their full value. 



As in the case of the flowering plants, our endeavour in 

 this section will be to make a choice and varied selection of 

 those which are readily obtainable at the present time. In 

 horticulture, as in other departments of life. Fashion holds a 

 certain control over the choice of subjects sought after. It is, 

 however, a fact that, notw^ithstanding the many meritorious 

 acquisitions that are being year by year brought from their 

 distant habitats, and the many new hybrid varieties raised by 

 the skill of our indefatigable horticulturists, some of the older 

 favourites continue to hold their own. Thus while paying due 

 regard to the importance of the newer species and varieties, 

 it is not our intention to abandon old favourites. 



AcALVPHA. — A genus of Euphorbiaceous plants with very orna- 

 mental foliage. The leaves of some of the species have very 



