2 
NEPENTHES DISTILL ATORI A. 
head of the plant now occupies a considerable space of the roof at that end of the 
house where it is growing-. In this state, from the number and size of the pitchers, 
and the easy and careless-like manner they hang from the tips of the leaves, the 
whole presents an almost inconceivably singular appearance, and we may add, that 
so exuberant has been the growth, that the flower spikes have in their progress 
considerably disfigured and fractured that part of the stem where they spring from, 
so as to leave an incision in the bark above and below the base of the flower spike, 
as if it had been made with a knife. 
It commenced flowering as much as eighteen months ago, since which it has 
successively continued by the development of new spikes from the lateral shoots. 
The cultivation of this plant has been regarded by most cultivators as extremely 
difficult ; but any one seeing the plants at Chatsworth would be led to think that 
could not be the case, for the plants here have such a healthy appearance, and their 
growth so free, that we very much question whether they are not as fine or finer 
than, plants growing in, and enjoying all the advantages of, their native soil; and not 
only do the plants themselves succeed so well, but they are increased with equally 
satisfactory success. Our experience has clearly taught us that heat at the roots is 
as necessary to the successful growth of this plant as a heated atmosphere is indis- 
pensable to the stem and leaves. The plants at Chatsworth (we say plants, because 
more than one is growing in the same part of the house) are placed directly on the 
top of the entrance of one of the main flues, except that a little coarse material is 
put under the pots to prevent the moss in which they are immersed from taking 
fire when the flue covers may happen to become unusually heated. This moss is kept 
rather wet, so that from the heat of the flue a constant but gentle humidity is given 
off, which rises amongst the plants in the form of an invisible vapour, and thus 
strengthens while it promotes their growth. The heat of the moss we should say is 
generally about 80°, while the atmosphere of the house rarely, excepting in summer, 
averages 70°. 
The old plant throws out from the base of the stem at uncertain periods three or 
four off-sets ; these, when a few inches long, or when each has made three or four 
leaves, is taken off and potted singly in thirty-two sized pots, using as compost a 
little coarse fibrous peat, mixed with a greater proportion of the Hvpnum Moss 
(Hypnum proliferum), each is then plunged into the moss as before directed; and 
as the plants grow, and the rootlets in the pots become numerous., an additional 
sized pot is given to each, using precisely the same materials in potting as before, 
observing to secure a good open drainage at the bottom of each. In the summer, 
when the house is well heated, a slight washing with the syringe in the evening will 
be serviceable. It is not advisable to expose the plants to the direct influence of the 
mid-day sun, still their growth and appearance will be improved if a good share of 
