PEPER OMIA —PHIL ODENDR ON—PHR YNIUM. 



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plants, and soon after place them singly in small pots. Assign them a light position, 

 top the young shoots, and shift into G-inch pots a week later. When strongly rooted, 

 apply water copiously, and liquid manure occasionally. Prune closely in the spring, 

 and when fresh growth is forming, reduce the old balls of soil and roots and re-pot. 

 Soil suitable — loam, peat, and leaf soil in equal parts, adding sand freely, and pot rather 

 firmly. (See Fig. 6.) 



peperomia. — Pepper-Elder. Stove herbaceous perennials, with ornamental leaves 

 of a succulent character. P. arifolia argyrea (syn. P. Saundersi), Brazil, has leaves 

 variegated with green and grey. P. maculosa, Tropical America, forms leaves bright 

 shining green in colour, with petioles beautifully spotted with purple. P. metallica, 

 P. prostrata, and P. brevipes are also catalogued. Peperomias are increased by cuttings 

 of either shoots or single joints with a leaf attached, inserted in sandy peat ; the 

 pots plunged in bottom heat of 65° to 75°, but not covered with glass, or damping may 

 ensue. The erect species should be grown in small pots, and those of a creeping habit 

 of growth in pans or planted out. They thrive in equal parts of loam and peat, with 

 a free admixture of sand ; shade from bright sun, and be careful not to over- water, 

 keeping the soil dry rather than otherwise. 



philodendron. — There is a considerable number of species belonging to this 

 genus of evergreen plants of diverse habit. P. Andreanum, P. crinipes, P. Lindeni, and 

 P. Selloum, form a good selection. They are easily propagated by cutting the stems into 

 lengths of about three joints and inserting the portions in pots of light soil, in a 

 temperature of about 75°. Tall plants may be cut down and have their tops made into 

 cuttings. The tall-growing species ought to be planted against walls or pillars for 

 training up them, the dwarf kinds succeeding well in large pots. Compost suitable — 

 equal parts of loam, peat, and leaf soil, with silver sand. They should be syringed daily, 

 and must have abundance of water at all times. 



phrynium. — P. variegatum (Pig. 7) has rapidly gained in favour as a serviceable, 

 fine-foliaged plant. It is allied to Maranta, and of easy culture. The leaves have erect 

 foot-stalks about a foot high, with spreading blades 6 to 9 inches long, and 2 to 4 inches 

 broad. They are bright pale green, beautifully variegated with cream-white, the 

 marking being of a very diversified character. Plants can be employed for house and 

 warm conservatory decoration, and are worthy of extended cultivation. For cultural 

 instruction see Maranta, page 6. 



phyllanthus. — Of this extensive genus a few species are cultivated in plant stoves 



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