A NTHURIUM — A PHELA NDRA . 



2,8, 



more or less, that will elapse before germination takes place. When the seedlings are 

 large enough to move, transfer them to other pans prepared as for seed sowing. Insert 

 them carefully in the compost, and keep them close and moist as before till they are well 

 established, when they will bear more exposure to the air. From the pan transfer the 

 plants to well-drained pots just large enough to hold the roots comfortably. For these 

 and the later shifts employ fibrous peat, from which some of the finer portions have been 

 beaten out, two parts, sphagnum moss two parts, superior fibrous loam one part, with 

 sharp sand, broken crocks and charcoal freely intermixed. The larger the pots the 

 coarser should be the compost for the plants. 



Division of old plants is the most common method of propagation, and this is best 

 done early in the year. In order to be able to divide them with as little damage to the 

 roots as possible, shake the plants clear of soil and carefully pull them apart, each crown 

 or division having roots attached. Avoid over-potting these divisions, and take good care 

 that the roots are evenly distributed. The compost may be the same as recommended for 

 the seedlings. In every case ample drainage should be provided, while the crowns of the 

 plants ought to be raised well above the rim of the pots, with the soil banked up 

 around them. Finish with a surfacing of fresh sphagnum. Arrange the newly divided 

 plants in a somewhat shady position on a stage that can be kept constantly moist, also 

 keep the plants uniformly moist at the roots, syringing them once or twice daily. A 

 temperature of 60° to 70° answers well at the outset, increasing to 75° or more in hot 

 weather for the benefit of the more tender species. A. Scherzerianum and varieties 

 require less heat than the species grown for the beauty of their leaves, and are fre- 

 quently seen in excellent condition under what is little better than warm greenhouse 

 treatment. 



Established plants should be kept in a moist atmosphere ; also steadily moist at the 

 roots and shaded from bright sunshine. January is the best month to give larger pots 

 to any requiring them. If the roots are found unhealthy, wash them nearly, or quite, 

 clear of soil, cut out all dead portions, and re-pot in fresh compost. Good drainage is 

 imperative, as although anthuriums are moisture-loving plants they will not thrive in 

 sour soil. 



APHELANDRA. 



Though not commonly cultivated, aphelandras are yet deserving of inclusion in 

 most collections of stove plants. They are of a shrubby nature, and grown for the 

 brilliancy and attractiveness of their terminal four-sided spikes of flowers, which are 

 vol. ii. o o 



