143 



Well, it never seems to do well in a tub, and is best planted out. As 

 has been mentioned, care must be taken to develop and not to injure 

 the erect roots either by cutting them or throwing soil on them. 

 When the plant is big enough to flower, it may be manured with a 

 little cowdung and water one month before flowering, not later, 

 i.e., about the beginning of July. This is better than adding cow- 

 dung or manure thrown on the base, as that is liable to injure the 

 erect roots. 



During flowering the plant should be examined to destroy the 

 grubs and beetles attacking the flowers. About March, the plant 

 may be cleaned by removing the old withered stems, flower- 

 stalks, etc. 



Occasionally, the plant gets attacked by a fungus which appears 

 as black spots on the leaves, and this sometimes attacks the young 

 shoots destroying the bud. In this case, the fungus may prove very 

 injurious to the plant. Spraying with Bordeaux mixture might stop 

 its ravages. 



The plant can be propagated by breaking it up when it is a large 

 plant. Although it fruits constantly in the Gardens and its abun- 

 dant seed is drifted about on the wind, I do not know of any young 

 plants derived from the large ones in the Gardens. 



H. N. RIDLEY. 



