THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



for the ornamental character of their growth. Their leaves are entire, generally 

 distichous, and so arranged in opposite rows along the smaller branches as to give them 

 the appearance of pinnate leaves. The species principally grown are P. Chantrieri, 



P. myrtifolius, P. nitosus, and P. 

 roseo-pictus. They are increased 

 by cuttings of firm shoots 2 to 3 

 inches long, inserted singly in 

 small pots of sandy soil in the 

 spring, and covered with glass in 

 a temperature of 70° to 80°. 

 Young plants ought not to be 

 topped, Phyllanthus being the 

 most ornamental when grown with 

 a single straight stem. Arrange 

 them in a shady part of the stove, 

 and shift into larger pots as re- 

 quired, employing a compost of 

 equal parts sandy loam and 

 fibrous peat, adding broken bricks, 

 charcoal, cow manure in a dry 

 powdery state, and sand. During 

 the spring and summer syringe 

 morning and evening and apply 

 water freely, giving less of this 

 during the winter, but not keep- 

 ing the soil in a dust dry state. 



pilea. — Sometimes termed 

 Artillery Plants, owing to the 

 peculiar behaviour of the flower 

 buds, when damped, bursting open suddenly and throwing off pollen like little 

 whiffs of smoke. P. muscosa (syn. P. microphylla) is the species principally grown ; 

 herbaceous, and of a much branching yet compact habit of growth ; flowers minute, 

 but abundantly produced all over the upper surface of the plants. Eaised by 

 seeds sown on the surface of pans of light soil, in a temperature of 65° to 70°, in the 



Fig. 7. Pheynitoi vaeiegattjm. 



