CULTURE OF CEMTRADENIA ROSEA. 21 3 
CULTURE OF CENTRADENIA ROSEA. 
Among the many interesting plants which now ornament the 
stove and conservatory the Centradenia rosea stands con¬ 
spicuously prominent, remarkable alike for its graceful habit, 
curious copper-coloured leaves, and the profusion-of flowers 
which cover it; forming, in the whole, a neat and lovely object, 
peculiarly adapted for an isolated position such as would be 
afforded by placing it on a pedestal, or an elevated part of 
the central stage: when well grown and seen apart from other 
plants, in the manner described, its appearance is most 
imposing. 
The Centradenia is very readily increased by means of cuttings, 
which may be taken off at any time, although in preparing the 
cuttings it will be necessary to select those pieces which appear 
the firmest, as the ripened wood of the preceding season will 
be found to strike more freely than the succulent green shoots 
recently formed. The compost best suited for the cuttings 
is an equal mixture of peat and silver sand, mixed well to¬ 
gether, and rubbed fine. The pots intended for the cuttings 
should be filled about two-thirds up, supplying the deficiency 
with pure sand: in this the cuttings should be inserted, and, 
when properly placed, a gentle watering should be given to the 
soil. The best method to do this is to dip the pot into a tank, 
or other vessel containing water, until it flows a little above the 
surface of the earth; the returning action of the water settles 
the sand firmly round the base of the cuttings, without incurring 
the inconvenience and risk of beating the foliage into the soil 
which attends the application of water by means of the syringe 
or water-pot. A glass should be placed over the cuttings im¬ 
mediately they are potted, and when finished plunge them 
into a gentle bottom heat, and shade them from the rays of 
the sun. As soon as they have taken root the glasses may be 
removed; and after a few days’ hardening, they may be placed 
separately into small pots, using a mixture of well-rotted leaf- 
mould and peat, adding a third of sand, observing to use it in 
as rough a state as possible, the object being to render the mix¬ 
ture pervious to both air and water. A place upon a shelf near 
to the glass in the stove, with attention to watering, will be all 
VOL. VI. NO. xii. b B 
