1668. ] 
DI0N2EA MUSCIPULA. 
253 
Victor Trouillard pere : H.P .—Beautiful red changing to violet, very large, very full, of 
fine form ; growth very vigorous. 
Paul's Nurseries, Waltham Cross, N. William Paul. 
DIONjEA MUSCIPULA. 
jT^AVINGr received several inquiries as to my method of growing the 
Dionaea, I have thought it best to answer them through the medium 
of the Florist. 
This plant, although, possessing no attractions in the shape of 
brilliant flowers or stately growth, is nevertheless a most interesting 
subject when well grown. It has been long in cultivation, but, owing in a 
great measure, I believe, to unskilful treatment, it still remains scarce. 
Found indigenous in the swamps of Carolina, it cannot endure to become 
anything approaching dry at the root, neither will it long continue in health 
if kept closely confined under a bell-glass in a very high temperature—the 
conditions under which w r e generally find it; plants so treated make larger 
growth for a time, but ultimately become sickly and dwindle away. Neither 
must it be excited to growth during its season of rest in the winter. 
Those who are commencing its culture ought to procure plants before 
the beginning of March. At this time they will show signs of commencing, 
to grow, and should be potted, carefully removing all the old soil, no 
matter how sweet and porous it may appear, for if left in the same soil more 
than twelve months there is great danger of its becoming sour, if sufficient 
water has been used for the well-being of the plants. 
The material I use consists of three parts chopped sphagnum, two 
parts fibrous peat broken to the size of horse beans, and one part crocks 
broken to the size of Peas, with a little sand. I pot tolerably firm, using 
thumb pots well drained; and plunge the pots up to the rims in sphagnum 
as close as they will stand in a shallow pot or pan, immediately giving a 
good soaking with water. If the plants are strong they will throw up 
flower stems as soon as they commence growing, but these should be re¬ 
moved as soon as they appear. During the growing season the plant should 
be watered overhead every day. In November or December it will show 
signs of going to rest by making several small leaves; those are all that 
will remain during the winter, as the larger ones that have been made 
during the summer will gradually decay, and ought then to be removed. 
During the winter, the plants will require water two or three times a-week, 
according to the amount of atmospheric moisture in the house; the soil 
ought to be kept drier during the winter months than during the growing 
season, otherwise the roots being dormant will rot; still it must never be 
allowed to get nearly so dry as the majority of other cultivated plants 
require to be, for if it does death is almost sure to follow. 
