222 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



weather, with a view to keeping down red spider — an insect pest that pimeleas are 

 liable to be attacked by. Watering must be carefully applied both during the summer 

 and after the plants are housed. An excess of it will sour the soil and ruin the plants; 

 while if the soil is allowed to become very dry most of the root-fibres will perish and the 

 plant also probably. 



pinguicula. — Of this small family of u Butterworts " the best for greenhouse cul- 

 ture is P. caudata (syn. Bakeriana) (Fig. 102), a Mexican species, and very beautiful. It 

 is a perennial of a neat, dense growth, and produces rich, deep carmine flowers in the 

 autumn. Plants are raised from seeds sown in February or March, on the surface of shallow 

 pans filled with equal parts of sphagnum moss, peat and sand, placed under a bell-glass 

 and kept constantly moist in a temperature of 55° to 65°. May be increased by divi- 

 sion in March or April. It is at this season of the year when re-potting may be done. 

 The compost that suits these plants is equal parts of peat, sphagnum moss, and clean 

 crocks, and the pots used must be heavily drained. After potting arrange the plants on 

 inverted pots in saucers of water, and cover with a hand-light or bell-glass. In these 

 they should be constantly kept, only admitting air for a few minutes- every day. Shade 

 from bright sunshine. Water freely during the warmest part of the year, when a cool 

 position suits the plants, but they ought to be kent at the warmest end of the green- 

 house through the winter. 



pittosporum. — Only a very limited number of species belonging to this large family 

 are cultivated in greenhouses or conservatories, and these not generally. P. Tobira, 

 a half-hardy evergreen shrub, produces terminal heads of white, sweet-scented flowers 

 from March to August, and of this there is a variety with variegated foliage. P. undu- 

 latum, Australia, is somewhat shy flowering, but is of fairly ornamental appearance at 

 all times. P. viridiflorum, Cape of Good Hope, has greenish-yellow, jasmine-scented 

 flowers, which are usually at their best in May. All are propagated by cuttings of 

 moderately firm young shoots, about 3 inches long, inserted singly in small pots and 

 sandy soil, under a hand-glass in shade and a temperature of 55° to 65°. Gradually shift 

 the plants into larger pots, using a mixture of two parts fibrous loam to one of peat or 

 leaf soil, with sand added. Allow the plants to branch naturally. They may be arranged 

 in the open during the summer, and wintered in a cool greenhouse or conservatory. 



Pleroma. — See Wall and Pillar Plants (Conservatories). 



Plumbago. — See Wall and Pillar Plants. 



polygala. — What few species there are of this genus suitable for greenhouse 



