MUSA COCCINEA, 
61 
best way to grow fine healthy plants, with plenty of good foliag-e, is to shift them 
early in the spring-, and to place them in a vinery or peach-house, where a 
temperature of 60 or 65 degrees is kept, giving them, after they commence grow- 
ing, a good supply of water, not only at the roots, but with the syringe over the 
stalk and leaves. None of the species of this genus are very subject to the attacks 
of insects, although, if neglected, these enemies may be expected and will appear ; 
but if a good supply of water is forcibly applied with the syringe or engine they 
cannot do much harm. After the plants, introduced to the vinery or peach-house, 
have made five or six good leaves, the month of May will be drawing near, when 
they may be brought into the green-house or conservatory (if lofty enough to 
admit them), placed amongst the other plants, and will give a pretty and interesting 
appearance to the whole. As it is requisite in the summer months almost to expose 
the plants in these places, it will be found necessary to take some precautionary 
step to prevent the wind from tearing their leaves, which it is very liable to do if 
not protected. Plants so treated are then in a fit state to employ as decorations 
for ball-rooms, &c. ; for this purpose many are grown in the neighbourhood of 
London. At the approach of winter the plants should be placed in the stove, or 
other place where a little heat is kept, until spring, when they will require fresh 
shifting. The only thing necessary to be attended to particularly, in the successful 
cultivation of this plant, is to keep the roots sound during their torpid existence 
in winter, which can be only guarded against by a judicious administration of water 
during that season. In other particulars the treatment recommended for M. para- 
disiaca will also suit this. 
MUSA COCCINEA; OR, SCARLET-FLOWERED 
PLANTAIN TREE. 
This is the most dwarf species knovvn in the genus, except that represented in 
the coloured figure, viz., M. Cavendishii, from which it will be readily known by the 
broad obtusely-shaped pale green leaves of that species. It has been an inhabitant 
of the stoves of this country for more than a century, and was, previous to that time, 
imported from China. The dwarf habit of its growth renders it interesting and 
valuable as a stove-plant ; and it is much esteemed by some who favour the growth of 
this genus on account of the peculiar colour of its stalk and leaves, which are of a 
yellowish-green. This peculiar feature being only natural to this species, will at all 
times be a sure mark of distinction. 
The botanical distinctions are as follows : Spadiv, or flower-spike, erect» 
Flowers produced in heads (capitate) round the flower-spike, which rises imme- 
diately from the centre of the leaves. SpatJies, in great numbers, of a clear scarlet 
colour at the base, very large, with a portion of yellow at the end of each. Stalk, 
from six to eight feet high in a full grown specimen. Leaves obtusely-lanceolate^ 
t 
