INSECT-EATING PLANTS. 



141 



V insectivorous plants," is about two parts of good brown fibrous 

 peat, some chopped sphagnum moss, some moderate-sized nodules 

 of charcoal, and a portion of sharp silver sand, the whole 

 thoroughly mixed and incorporated. The pots should be well 

 drained ; burnt breeze makes an excellent material, as it soaks 

 up a great quantity of moisture and at once carries away any 

 superabundance, and thus everything is kept in a sweet and 

 wholesome condition, for anything stagnant about their roots 

 soon causes these plants to assume an unhealthy appearance ; 

 the thrips and red- spider then take possession of them, and they 

 look miserable and wretched. 



Some few plants are recognised as species, all of which are 

 natives of North America, and amongst these from time to 

 time crop up varieties which have evidently originated from 

 hybridisation by bees or other insects. One of the natural 

 hybrids so produced I am able to exhibit to you to-day. It is 

 named Sarracenia Mandaiana, and is one of the most beautiful 

 plants amongst the whole tribe of the Sarracenias. It was 

 originally discovered by me in a batch of Sarracenia Drum- 

 mondii which we had collected, and it possesses certain evident 

 marks which identify it as a cross between S. flava rubra and 

 S. Drummondii ; and it is not only one of the prettiest, but also 

 one of the most distinct plants in cultivation. Sarracenia 

 Williamsii is another plant that crops up from time to time 

 amongst batches of £. purpurea. The majority of other hybrids 

 are of garden origin, the outcome of the gardener's skill either 

 in America or England, and very beautiful many of them are. 



The following is a list of almost all the species, varieties, and 

 hybrids of Sarracenias under cultivation at the present time : — 



S. Athinsoniana {S. flava maxima x S. purpurea). — Avery 

 fine hybrid, lined and marked with red, the lid especially being 

 finely coloured. 



S. atrosanguinea. — A grand hybrid. 



S. Chelsonii. — A beautiful hybrid between S. rubra and S. 

 purpurea ; very pretty, and about intermediate between both 

 parents. 



S. Courtii. — One of the best hybrids raised. It was obtained 

 by crossing S. purpurea and S. psittacina. The pitchers are 

 small, and shaped like S. psittacina, but with the beautiful mark- 

 ings of S. purpurea. 



