CONSERVATORY, AND STOVE PLANTS. 
15 
for the growth of most tropical plants. Where there is a scarcity of peat, a mixture 
of decomposed leaves of trees may be applied in its stead, with great advantage. 
Should the soil not be of a naturally sandy quality, a little sand should be inter- 
mixed, so as to render it light and free for the roots to run in. 
The pots in which they grow, must be well drained with small pieces of 
potsherds, or any other material that will permit a free passage for the superfluous 
moisture. There should be placed next the drainage, a little of the rough fibrous 
substance that is collected from the soil, which will admit of a ready penetration of 
the water through it, and prevent the mould in the pots from becoming too much 
saturated with wet; as nothing is more injurious to the tender roots than to have 
the soil soured about them when in a dormant state. 
Most sorts of tropical plants are increased, either by cuttings, seeds, or dividing 
the roots ; whence off-sets of the Orchidea and Cryptogamia genus are procured : 
and when those throw out such suckers, or side ofF-sets, we have a plant supplied 
with roots immediately, which may be at once potted, and treated accordingly. 
These suckers, or offsets, should be allowed to form good roots before they are 
taken from the mother plant. 
The hard woody kinds may be propagated by cuttings, which will root freely, 
in most instances, when planted in sharp sand, and placed in a shaded situation of 
the stove, or any other apartment where they can be shaded from the effects of the 
mid-day sun ; as a small pit or frame is generally appropriated to this purpose, 
which can readily be shaded, by throwing a mat over the lights while the cuttings 
are striking root. Some of the species will require a slight degree of bottom heat, 
to induce them to throw out young roots. 
The most suitable season for propagating tropical plants, is from January to 
July : but many of the kinds may be put into the cutting-pots at any period of the 
year, providing the young shoots are in a proper state, as some species require the 
wood to be ripened and firm before they are put in ; whilst others may be increased 
when the shoots have grown only sufficiently long for the cutting. 
