3o6 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



can then be plunged to the rim in this compost. In the high temperature of the stove 

 insect pests quickly make headway if once they put in an appearance, so a sharp look-out 

 should be kept for them. A free use of the syringe helps to keep them under, while the 

 XL all vaporiser is fatal to all pests, except scale, which is best removed with soft 

 soap and water applied with a sponge. 



A large proportion of stove plants are remarkable for their handsome foliage, and as 

 many of these in a native state grow under the shade of trees, it is evident that when 

 they are grown in the stove careful attention in the matter of shading is absolutely 

 necessary. The shading should be fixed on rollers, so that it can be drawn up when not 

 required. The advice given in the case of the greenhouse to have the water-tank inside 

 the structure applies with even greater force to the stove. Of late years the flowers and 

 foliage plants requiring a very high temperature have ceased to be grown to anything 

 approaching the extent they were, or before much attention was directed to the beautiful 

 hardy perennials and shrubs of the pleasure grounds. The growth in popularity of the 

 Orchid has assisted to materially lessen interest in stove plants, which are often difficult 

 to cultivate, though of brilliant beauty. For this reason less space is devoted to them than 

 would have been the case some years ago, when at every exhibition classes were provided 

 for them, and valuable prizes awarded. Still, to ignore them would, of course, be a 

 mistake, hence as much information concerning the various kinds as modern flower gardeners 



will desire is given. 



FLOWERING PLANTS. 



THE flowering plants that require the temperature of a strive are many in number, 

 and among them are some brilliantly-coloured subjects, as well as others remarkable in 

 different ways. Many may be grown in a cooler structure during the summer, but for the 

 greater part of the year stove heat is necessary. Little can be said with regard to their 

 culture, as such dissimilar forms exist amongst them, but generally speaking an ample 

 supply of water both at the roots and overhead is needed during the growing season, and 

 a somewhat less amount afterwards. With a well-assorted collection the stove may be 

 kept gay at all seasons. The following are all good stove flowering plants, and there is 

 no period of the year when some of them are not in bloom : 



Acalypha Sanderiana.- The most startling novelty of 

 189S. bearing throughout the year from the axils of every 

 leaf long pendulous spikes of blossoms, like lengths of 

 carmine crimson chenille, reminding one of the long 

 tassels of the Love-lies-bleeding. It strikes root without 

 difficulty, and grows freely in ordinary potting compost. 

 Manure water is very essential as the pots get full of 

 roots. 



jEsehynanthus. — A class of rambling shrubs with 

 opposite leaves and brilliantly-coloured blossoms, borne 

 principally in the autumn months. They are produced 

 in clusters at the points of the shoots, and are of a 

 curved tubular shape after the manner of some of the 

 Gesneras. Grown in hanging baskets they are seen to 

 great advantage, while they succeed perfectly when 

 clothing the dead trunk of a Tree Fern. .L. fulgens, 

 crimson ; JE. grandiflorus, crimson and orange ; M. Lob- 

 bianus, deep scarlet ; and^E. speciosus, orange, are all good. 



Alpinia nutans. — This is the most conspicuous in a 

 small family, and pushes up from the base numerous 

 cane-like shoots, sparingly clothed towards the lower 

 part with leaves, which are more numerous at the top. 

 The shoots are terminated by a nodding raceme of 

 blossoms, white, marked with red and yellow. 



Amasonia punieea. — A small erect-growing shrub 

 with pointed leaves, from 3m. to 4m. long, and spikes of 

 small yellow blossoms. These flowers are attended by 

 comparatively large brownish red bracts, which are very 

 attractive and uncommon. Its flowering season is not 

 limited to any particular period of the year, the 

 bracts remain fresh and bright for a long time. 



Anthurium. — An extensive group of plants, the members 

 of which are in many cases remarkable more for their 

 foliage than flowers. Still, there are some beautiful 

 flowering kinds, for which room must be found in any 

 stove, however limited. The spathes of these Anthuriums 

 are in shape a good deal like the common Lords and 

 Ladies, consisting of a bright-coloured, shield-shaped 

 bloom known as a spathe, from the centre of which pro- 

 trudes a stiff horn-like substance called the spadix, and 

 which contains the flowers proper. Good flowering kinds 

 are : A. Andreanum, with a brilliant vermilion-coloured 

 spathe, which is curiously corrugated. Some forms of 

 this are much superior to others, and there is also a 

 white variety. A. ferrierense, bright rosy red spathes. 

 A. Scherzerianum, known as the Flamingo Flower, a 

 very general favourite. The spathes of this are a brilliant 

 scarlet, but there is also a white variety (album), and 

 another (Rolhschildianum) in w hich these two tints are 

 blended in a curious manner. May and June is the usual 

 season of blooming. These Anthuriums need to be potted 

 in a mixture of peat and Sphagnum Moss with ample 

 drainage to the pots. Copious supplies of water must be 

 given during the growing season, and after flowering the 

 whole of the soil should be shaken from the roois and the 

 plants again potted, using the same kind of compost as 

 before. 



Anthuriums are readily increased by division, which 

 must be done when repotting, or by seed, that takes about 

 a year to ripen. They are covered with a glutinous 

 substance, which may be removed by rubbing them up 

 with some dry sand previous to sowing. For this purpose 



