PL U MB AGO — POINSETT! A. 



z I 



spring, and increased by cuttings of young shoots in a brisk heat at any time, or by 

 division of the plants in February or March. Grow the plants in small pots in a 

 partially shaded position, using a mixture of loam, leaf soil, and sand. 



plumbago. — The blue and white forms of P. capensis are admirably adapted for 

 clothing pillars and walls in conservatories and greenhouses, but P. rosea is from the 

 East Indies, and requires more heat. This species rarely exceeds a height of 2 feet 

 and produces long terminal spikes of rosy-scarlet flowers during the winter. P. r. 

 coccinea superba is a distinct improvement on the type, this giving larger and more 

 brightly coloured flowers. Cuttings of side shoots 2 to 3 inches long, inserted singly 

 in small pots of sandy peat, in a temperature of 60° to 70°, root freely during spring 

 and summer. Top the young plants to make them branch, and transfer to larger pots 

 before they become root-bound and stubborn in growth. They may be flowered in 

 8-inch pots. Pot firmly in a compost of two parts fibrous loam to one of peat, with a 

 little sand. The plants should be arranged in shallow pits or frames during the 

 summer, and ought to be kept well supplied with water, varied by liquid manure 

 occasionally. Early in September move them to a light position in a temperature of 

 55° to 65°. After they have ceased flowering cut them down, and when fresh growth 

 commences turn all the plants it is intended to preserve out of the pots, reduce the ball 

 of soil and roots, and re-pot in the same size as before. They can be grown to a 

 comparatively large size by the autumn. 



POINSETTIA. 



What are popularly termed Poinsettias are, strictly speaking, Euphorbias, but 

 there are no signs of their ever being generally recognised other than under the old 

 familiar name. P. pulcherrima (Fig. 8), Mexico, has long been a favourite plant for warm 

 conservatory, house, and room decoration during the early part of the winter, and for 

 showiness and brilliancy of colouring it has no rival at that period of the year. The 

 flowers are greenish yellow, and comparatively insignificant, but surrounding them are 

 numerous long, broad scarlet floral leaves or bracts, which retain their colour and 

 freshness long after the flowers are over, and not infrequently survive the leaves 

 of the plants also. There is an early flowering form with shorter stems, more elegant 

 leaves, and bracts of a duller scarlet than the type. This should be grown for flowering 

 in November, the original species being at its best in December. P. p. alba gives 



