1S70. ] 
PITCHER PLANTS. 
245 
PITCHEH PLANTS. 
jN our volume for 1869, at p. 180, we had occasion to mention with com- 
^ mendation a handy volume just then published by Mr. Williams, and devoted 
to the description and culture of Stove and Greenhouse Flowering plants. 
As a sequel to this, Mr. Williams has now issued a companion volume on 
Stove and Greenhouse Fine-foliaged plants, which will be found equally useful 
to cultivators, containing, as it does, popular descriptions of all the best plants- 
of this class, with ample instructions for their cultivation. The volume contains 
a series of very useful memoranda concerning Palms—a noble group of plants 
becoming more and more appreciated amongst us. 
Through the courtesy of Mr. Williams we are enabled to introduce one of the 
illustrations to this new volume, representing Nepenthes Rafflesicma; and as giving 
a good example of the manner in which this subject is handled, we extract a 
portion of the remarks relating to the family of Pitcher plants :— 
The Nepenthes thrive admirably, and become very ornamental if placed in a 
moist atmosphere, and in a temperature of about 70°, which should be main¬ 
tained during summer, and which may be. alio wed to increase by the influence of 
the sun many more degrees. In winter 65° should be the minimum, and of 
course less water must be given. The soil best adapted for these plants is good 
brown fibrous peat and sphagnum moss, about two parts of the former to one of 
the latter. They are surface-rooting plants, and do not require much depth, 
consequently they thrive admirably, and display their singular beauties to great 
advantage when grown in baskets. Water must be supplied bountifully in the 
summer, both from the watering-can and the syringe, and even during winter the 
supply must be larger than for the majority of stove plants. 
N. ampullacea. —A robust-growing species, with broad oblong leaves, upon 
the apex of which are situated its somewhat oval pitchers ; the terminal lid is 
very small; colour, a uniform, light green. This plant frequently produces a 
quantity of suckers from the base of the stem, which form quite a crest of 
pitchers near the ground, giving a very peculiar and interesting appearance. It 
is a native of Borneo, Sumatra, and Malacca. 
N. ampullacea picta in every respect resembles the species, saving in the 
colour of the pitchers, which differ in being light green, streaked and spotted 
with reddish-brown. Native of Borneo. 
N. distillatoria. —As far as we are aware, this species is peculiar to the island 
of Ceylon. The plant is of free growth, with bright light-green leaves and 
pitchers, the latter being some six or eight inches in length. It forms a fine 
specimen, and withstands a lower temperature better than any other kind we 
know. Native of Ceylon. 
N. distillatoria rubra. —This variety differs from the preceding in having 
deep blood-red pitchers, which render it very distinct and ornamental. It origin- 
