EUPHORBIA. 



335 



purpose. These have been largely foreshadowed, and may be briefly summed up as 

 follows : — Avoid over-potting and, in particular, be careful not to make the soil sour 

 by over-watering. Assist strongly rooted plants with frequent applications of clear 

 soot water. When the right position is found for the plants, keep them there, and do 

 not resort to the practice of transferring to cooler quarters and drying off at the roots. 

 Shade carefully. If mealy bug be allowed to get the upper hand, this has a weakening 

 effect and naturally favours an attack of mite. The foliage is most susceptible of 

 injury from insecticides, especially if petroleum is used in any form. Sponge the leaves 

 with a solution of soft soap only, and insects of all kinds may be subdued. 



EUPHOEBIA. 



Of this large genus only three species are generally cultivated for the beauty of 

 their flowers, or rather their coloured bracts, but collectors of succulents find others to 

 admire for their fleshy stemmed character and grotesque form. Eeference will be 

 made to these subsequently, also to the popular and brilliant E. pulcherrima, under its 

 better known name of Poinsettia. E. fulgens and E. splendens are the other two florally 

 decorative species referred to. 



E. fulgens (syn. E. jacquiniseflora), native of Mexico, is a beautiful stove species. 

 During the winter well-grown plants produce long wreaths of orange -scarlet bracts, 

 fringed by bright green lanceolate leaves, which retain their beauty for months. It is 

 increased by cuttings of young shoots in May, or as early in the year as they can be 

 obtained. Young plants give the best results, and therefore a fresh stock should 

 be raised every season, whether the old plants are thrown away afterwards or not. 



With a view to having abundance of cuttings, rest the old plants after flowering, 

 then lightly prune and start them into growth in brisk moist heat. When the shoots 

 are 3 inches long take them off with a heel, and insert three or four in firm sandy soil 

 around the sides of 2^-inch pots. Plunge the pots in brisk bottom heat, or arrange in 

 a close propagating frame with a temperature of 70° to 80°. Avoid over-watering. 

 When well rooted assign the plants a light position on a shelf or stage for a few days, 

 then shift them, intact, into 5-inch or G-inch pots, disturbing the roots as little as 

 possible. Good drainage must be afforded, and a compost of fibrous loam and peat in 

 equal parts, with a liberal addition of sharp sand and finely broken pot-sherds mixed 

 in the soil. Pot somewhat firmly, and keep the plants growing in a light position in 

 brisk heat all through the season. The three plants lightly supported with stakes will 



