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METHOD OF TREATING DYSOPHYLLA PUMILA, STELLATA, AND 
VERTICILLATA, 
SO AS TO MAKE THEM PRETTY OBJECTS DURING SUMMER. 
These three species of plants, although long introduced into our gardens, are 
yet very scarce, and have been little esteemed as plants of ornament. They are all 
perennials, and perhaps in their native countries re-germinate vigorously for many 
years ; but with us it is far the best to treat them as stove annuals, for with the 
best management they never seem to thrive again after they have freely flowered 
and borne seeds, which, if properly treated, they produce liberally. 
They are all natives of the tropics, growing in ditches or shallow rivers ; they 
may therefore be considered as stove aquatics. They attain from nine to eighteen 
inches in height ; their leaves grow in whorls, and in habit are not much unlike some 
species of Galium. The flowers are produced in close but slender spikes from 
two to three inches long, at the extremity of each stem ; individually, they are small 
and insignificant, but from their disposition, the plants, when in bloom, are ren- 
dered exceedingly pretty. 
Increase is effected both by seeds and cuttings ; the former are sown early in 
February at the same time as those of tender annuals. The soil should be 
composed of two parts sandy peat and one part light loam ; break it pretty fine, 
but do not remove the fibres ; with this fill the pots in which the seeds are to be 
sown ; make the surface as smooth and fine as possible, then water it well, and 
when this has drained through, sow the seeds thinly upon the plain surface, and 
gently press them down with the back of the hand ; some persons advise scattering 
a thin layer of fine sand over the seeds, but this is not necessary ; place each pot in 
a pan of water, and set them in a hotbed or other situation where a lively heat is 
kept up ; cover them with a hand or bell-glass, and, in the course of a month or so, 
they will appear above the surface. 
When thoroughly up, remove the hand-glass to prevent their being too much 
drawn, and as the plants advance in growth, water may be administered over-head 
with a very fine rose. When they are large enough to transplant, put a single 
plant in each 60-sized pot filled with the same soil in which the seeds were sown ; 
place each pot in a pan of water, and repot as often as the plants require it, until 
finally they should be placed for flowering in 32-sized pots, making the soil more 
rich than previously, with a portion of well-rotted manure. Give a good supply of 
water, both over-head and in the pans beneath the pots, and they will flower well 
and give satisfaction to the cultivator. 
Cuttings are planted in a mixture of peat and sand, and are placed in heat 
under a hand-glass. They may also sometimes be increased by division ; but as the 
plants are short-lived, it is better, if possible, to propagate by seeds, as above. 
