OCTOBER, 30. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
63 
4. There will be a saving of space during those 
months when space under glass is most valuable. Pot 
in as small pots as you will, and pack them as close as 
you please, no squeezing of them will enable you to get 
anything like the number of plants in a light, that you 
may safely cram in without potting. 
5. This planting under a light, whether transplanted 
or potted afterwards, is superior to any mode of planting 
or turning in by the heels in mere sheds, &c., however 
comfortable, as growth is more early, or, at least, more 
sturdy, the flowering process is sooner brought into 
action, and less disposition for large foliage, though 
receiving similar treatment. With the latter, indeed, 
whether for vases, or beds, or pot plants, I never could 
get them at all to my mind, plant when I would , without 
having previously potted them, and given them a lift in 
April under glass, calico covering, or the protection of a 
■ hurdle when cold. That is no reason why others should 
not succeed better. 
The mode pointed out now is not for a moment thought 
to be the best ; but where space is limited, and in the 
particular circumstances referred to, it is not the worst. 
R. Fish. 
HOTHOUSE DEPARTMENT. 
EXOTIC STOVE PLANTS. 
Euphorbia. —A genus of plants, the greater part of 
which are uninteresting weeds; natives of various parts 
of the world. Many of them are curious, distorted 
objects, with fleshy stems and succulent leaves, scarcely 
worth growing except in botanical collections, and as 
matters of curiosity. They are all remarkable for yield¬ 
ing, when cut or wounded, a milky acrid juice, which 
possesses considerable medicinal powers. It is, how¬ 
ever, not with such matters that we intend to trouble 
our readers on this occasion. Our intention in writing 
about stove plants, is to draw attention only to objects 
of floral beauty. The Spurgeworts have three species 
amongst them that are, when well grown, really hand¬ 
some, showy, and attractive, and continue a long time 
in beauty. 
Euphorbia Jaccquinifolia (Jaccquin’s E.); S. Ame¬ 
rica.—A tall, slender-growing shrub, with ovate foliage 
and bright scarlet flowers, which are produced thickly in 
two rows on each side of the drooping stems, standing 
i out above the foliage. Though each flower is individu¬ 
ally small, yet, by being numerous and of so bright a 
colour, they are very showy. As flowers for the bouquet 
there are none to surpass them, and as the season of 
blooming happens in winter, they are the more accept¬ 
able. Good plants may be had for 2s. 6d. each. 
Euphorbia punicea (Scarlet E.); Jamaica.—This is 
a handsome-growing plant, independent of the beauty 
of its flowers. The foliage is of a peculiar light green, 
and is thickly set on beautiful light-coloured stems. The 
flowers are small, but their beauty consists in bright 
rich scarlet bracts. This plant has been cultivated in 
this country for more than a century, but is compara¬ 
tively unknown. It is, however, worthy of general cult¬ 
ivation. 
Euphorbia splendens (Showy E.); Madagascar.— 
A prickly, upright, branchy shrub, of great beauty. The 
flowers are produced on short footstalks, sometimes in 
pairs, generally in fours, but sometimes in as many as 
eight on a stem. They are of a pleasing colour, between 
a rose and a scarlet. The colour is much heightened by 
being placed in the full light of the sun, and as near the 
glass as possible. A showy handsome plant. 2s. 6d. 
Culture: Propagation. —By cuttings. The best sea¬ 
son for propagating these plants is about the month of 
March, but they will succeed through most of the sum¬ 
mer, though there is some danger, if the cuttings are put 
in late, of their damping off in the dark season of autumn 
and winter. The best cuttings are made from the young 
shoots, provided they have a portion of a rather woody 
stem at the base of each cutting. Take them off and lay 
them to dry for a day or two previous to planting; the 
ends will then cease bleeding, and become hardened at 
the base. Plant them thickly round the edge of 5-incli 
pots, in very sandy loam, with a coating of pure white 
sand on the surface. Place them in a warm part of the 
stove, and cover them with a hand-glass, giving very 
little water. Lift off the hand-glass every morning for 
an hour or two, which will prevent their damping off, as 
they otherwise would be liable to do on account of their 
succulent nature ; they will need no shade excepting in 
the very hottest part of summer, in the middle of the 
day. As soon as they are rooted, pot them off imme¬ 
diately. 
E punicea is the most difficult to strike—perhaps not 
more than one out of five will succeed. It sometimes 
produces a pod of seed, and advantage must be taken of 
that whenever it takes place. Sow the seed in spring, 
in the same kind of soil, finely sifted on the surface, and 
pot off the seedlings, as soon as they can be handled, 
into very small pots, and treat them afterwards exactly 
similar to the cuttings. 
Soil. —■ The compost suitable for these beautiful 
Euphorbias consists of loam, peat, and leaf-mould, in 
equal parts, with a large admixture of coarse sand:—a 
small quantity of old lime rubbish; the coarse parts 
sifted out of it will be advantageous to add to the com¬ 
post, but it is not absolutely necessary. 
Summer Culture. — E. jaccquiniflora requires to be 
severely stopped, in order to form anything like a tole¬ 
rably formed plant. Perhaps the best way is to plant 
four or five plants in one pot, six or eight inches wide. 
We have seen plants so treated look very handsome 
when in bloom. In the Sheffield Botanic Garden, there 
was, some years ago, a plant of this kind trained up, with 
a single stem, to perhaps 3^- feet high; it was stopped 
there, and branched out freely. The branches were 
trained, umbrella wise, and formed as handsome an 
object of floricultural beauty, when in bloom, as was 
ever seen. This mode is worthy of a trial. During 
summer the whole of these three plants require a mode¬ 
rate supply of water, on account of their succulent habit. 
They must be kept constantly in the stove. Re-pot in 
early spring, and top-dress in the autumn. Drain well j 
at the time of potting. 
Winter treatment. —As might be anticipated, very 
small supplies of water are requisite. Cut down E. Jacc- 
quiniflora as soon as it has done blooming. This will 
cause it to branch out more freely, and keep it within 
bounds. The other two do not need this operation. 
T. Appleby. 
FLORISTS’ FLOATERS. 
ME. GLENNY ON FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
After endeavouring for twenty years to establish a 
pure taste in floriculture, by laying down certain points 
which are necessary in perfect specimens, and so far 
succeeding as to obtain the general consent as to their 
propriety, it would almost seem a work of supererogation 
to enforce the practical application of rules so univer¬ 
sally admitted to be good, but, nevertheless, it is neces¬ 
sary, because these rules are resisted by a class whose 
interests they are erroneously supposed to affect unfa¬ 
vourably. When we laid down the points which we 
called “ the properties of flowers and plants,' 1 there were 
no rules by which a really good flower could be recog¬ 
nised. Florists had different tastes; one admired a 
large coarse variety, another striking colours, without 
caring for form or size; a third wanted particular mark- 
