FLOWERS OF THE STOVE. 



31' 



in u s t b e 

 thorough, as it 

 needs a good 

 supply of water 

 during the 

 growing season. 



Saintpaulia 

 ionantha. - 



A pretty little 

 ge s n eraceo u s 

 plant, thai will 

 flower for 

 months to- 

 gether. 1 1 

 forms a dense 

 rosette-like tuft 

 of leaves from 

 whence are 

 pushed up rich 

 purple flowers, 

 about the size 

 i if a large Violet. 

 T his Saint- 

 paulia may be 

 increased by 

 division, by in- 

 serting the 

 leaves as 



cuttings, or l>v seed, which should be sown earl 

 spring. It is very minute, and needs no covering 

 a pane of glass laid over the p it or pan in which 

 sown. 



Scutellaria Moeeiniana.— a rather upright shrubby 



plain with ovate leaves, and terminal heads of showy 

 blossoms. The individual blooms are about Ijin. long, and 

 of curved tubular shape, while their colour is a brilliant 

 scarlet, lit up with yellow at the mouth. They are I> irne 

 throughout the summer and autumn months. It strikes 

 readily from cuttings, and succeeds with ordinary treatment. 



Siphoeampylos Humboldtianus. The showiest 



member of an extensive genus, whose scarlet tubular- 

 shaped blossoms are borne more or less throughout the 

 summer and autumn. Stove culture suits it w ell, but care 

 must be taken not to overpot. 



Strelitzia. Musa like plants, one species of which, S. 

 Kegince, is a valuable plant lor the stove. The leaves, 

 which are ovate in shape and about lit. in length, are 

 borne on long stalks, so that the tuft of foliage reaches a 

 height of 5ft. It blooms, as a rule, about Mav, the land- 

 scape just overtopping the leaves. Several flowers are 

 produced from one cluster, the individual blossoms 

 suggesting the head of a bird. The colouring is very 

 bright, being a brilliant orange and purple. It needs 

 rather large pots, good loamy soil, and should not be dis- 

 turbed at the roots more than is absolutely necessary. A 

 little liquid manure occasionally is very beneficial. 



StreptoearpUS.-— This family is placed here because it 

 blooms in the winter in a high temperature. There are 

 about half-a-dozen species, which have been crossed and 

 intercrossed to such an extent that a new race has been 

 formed. Most of them are of a compact habit, and pro- 

 duce their flowers in great profusion. The colour varies 

 from white to purple, different intermediate lints, such as 



SAIN TP A VI. I A ION A N Til A 



t in the 

 except 

 it is 



pink, magenta 

 rose, light red, 

 m a u v e , r. ;i 

 v i o 1 e t - blue, 

 being also 

 represen ted . 

 These Slrepto. 

 c a r p i h a v e 

 proved to be of 

 great use for 

 the embellish- 

 ment of the 

 stove at various 

 seasons, and ol 

 the greenhouse 

 during the sum- 

 mer. The seed 

 should be sow 11 

 in the spring in 

 pans of light 

 soil, and il 

 coveied with a 

 pane of glass 

 they will, in 

 the stove, soon 

 commence to 

 grow. Directly 

 1 his happens the 



glass must be remove:!, and the p ins si 1 on a shelf near 



the glass. When large enough to handle the seedlings must 

 be pricked oil into other pans, and in lime polled singly 

 in small pots. K pal p uis ol" loam mid leal mould with 

 a little sand will suit them well. The next shift will le 

 into puts 4in. or 5m. in diameter, according lo the vigour 

 of the plants, and in these they will flower. Some 

 individuals arc more prolific than others, but many of 

 them will bloom nearly throughout the year. 



Tabernaemontana eoronaria. — A shrub much like 



a Gardenia, with pure while, sweet-scented blossoms, 

 borne during the summer. There is a double-flowered 

 variety (flore-pleno) which is more popular than the 

 single form. Should be given the same treatment as 

 a Gardenia. 



Tillaildsia. — An extensive genus of Bromeliaceous plants, 

 many of which are, if regarded only from a foliage point 

 of view, very handsome, as their long strap-like leaves 

 are arranged in a regular vasiform manner, while in 

 addition the blossoms of some are remarkably shows'. 

 Their cultural requirements are the same as the Bilbergias. 

 Particularly desirable forms are : T. carinata, yellow and 

 red ; T. crocata, saffron yellow ; T. Duvaliana, scarlet, 

 yellow, and green ; T. Lindeni, bluish purple : T. 

 Morreni, yellowish green ; T. psittacina, red and yellow ; 

 T. splendens. yellow, fiery purple bracts ; T. tessellata, 

 handsome striped leaves. Many of these flower during 

 the autumn and winter 111 inths. 



Vilica. Soft-wooded shrubbv plants nearly related to our 

 native Periwinkle. V. alba, while ; V. alba oculata, 

 white, with reddish eye ; and V. rosea, pink, all need 

 stove treatment, and in this structure they will flower 

 from spring till autumn. The blooms, which are borne on 

 the points of the shoots, are about I in. across. The cultural 

 requirements of these Vincas are not at all exacting. 



FOLIAGE PLANTS. 



A LARGE number of stove plants are remarkable for the great beauty of their foliage, 

 in some instances owing to the shape and contour of the leaves, while in others it is 

 the colouring that constitutes their chief attraction. Many of them have various shades 

 and tints blended in an indescribable but pleasing manner, and in some the bright colours 

 form a pleasing contrast. As in most cases the ornamental features of the leaves are 

 retained throughout the year, foliage plants have a decided advantage over those grown 

 for the 1 ' flowers alone, as the last-named lose their attractiveness when the blossoms fade. 



