A Collection of Carnivorous Plants 
By S. LEONARD l^ASTIN 
I N this twentieth century there is an ever in¬ 
creasing tendency to specialize, and this 
inclination is very evident even in our hob¬ 
bies. The gardener of to-day is far more likely to 
take up some particular form of the art than was his 
forerunner a generation ago. This is perhaps all to 
the good, for it is proverbially difficult to do a number 
of things well—better work will be the result of a 
restricted held. One of the most interestino; of the 
special classes in which the horticulturist may engage 
is the getting together of a collection of carnivorous 
plants. These species are all the more desirable for 
culture owing to the fact that their requirements 
are comparatively simple. With some few exceptions 
nearly all may 
be successfully 
grown in a cool 
house where the 
temperature is not 
allowed to fall 
below fifty-five 
degrees in the 
winter. 
Perhaps of all 
t h e insectivorous 
species there are 
none of more easy 
culture than the 
Snrracemasov side- 
saddle plants; 
these are all peren¬ 
nials indigenous 
to the American 
continent. The 
j^lants require 
rather careful pot¬ 
ting and there is no 
better composition 
to grow them in 
than one m a d e 
principally of fi¬ 
brous peat, with 
the addition of 
some c h o p p e d 
s p h a g n ti m a n d 
possibly a few 
pieces of charcoal. 
Fhe general treat¬ 
ment should con¬ 
sist of liberal 
supplies o f water 
during the grow¬ 
ing season, with a 
considerable slackening in this direction during 
the winter, although Sarraceutas must never be 
allowed to become really dry. 'I'he side-saddle plants 
produce their lovely flowers in the springtime, and 
at this period the application of some li(]uid manure 
will be much appreciated. The principal species 
number a score or more, but in addition to these 
there are a number of hybrids many of which are 
extremely beautiful, yuite apart from the peculiar 
interest attached to Sarracenias on account of their 
fly catching propensities, the plants are all exceedingly 
attractive, scarcely one but what has its vase shaped 
leaves prettily veined at the oriflce. 
Indeed at any time, except perhaps in the dead 
of the winter, a 
collection of these 
plants will form 
an attractive fea¬ 
ture, and the ap¬ 
pearance of the 
plants will be 
m u c h e n h a n c e d 
when the fine 
blossoms are pro¬ 
duced. 
Although some¬ 
what insignificant 
plants, all the sun¬ 
dews or droseras 
are well worth the 
attention of 
the grower. But 
where space is lim¬ 
ited it is well to 
m a k e a s e 1 e c- 
tion of the best 
and most beau¬ 
tiful species. The 
plants thrive well 
in peat and live 
sphagnum and it 
is recommended 
that they be placed 
in some of the lat¬ 
ter at the top of 
the pot when being 
put in position. 
The sundews love 
a plentiful supply 
of moisture and as 
bog species, should 
never be allowed 
to Slitter for want 
79 
