172 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
August  22,  1895, 
are  prepared  in  the  early  part  of  summer,  the  tops  of  the  ridges 
might  be  planted  with  a  summer  crop  of  some  kind  or  other — 
Lettuces,  Cauliflowers,  or  early  Potatoes  are  all  suitable — taking 
care,  however,  that  they  must  not  remain  to  the  detriment  of  the 
Celery  crop. — R.  J . 
VARIEGATED  PLANTS. 
Continuing  my  remarks  on  this  subject  from  page  148,  I  come 
to  that  useful  genus  Pandanus  (Screw  Pine).  P.  Veitchi  is  a 
well-known  species,  which  is  highly  ornamental,  and  very  largely 
grown  for  decorative  purposes.  Large  plants,  with  their  long 
pendulous  leaves,  having  green  centres  bordered  with  bands  of 
white,  have  a  bold  striking  appearance  ;  but  unless  such  plants 
are  grown  in  very  light  positions,  their  leaves  have  a  tendency  to 
lose  the  beauty  of  their  variegation.  Young  plants  in  small  pots 
seldom  exhibit  this  tendency,  and  usually  show  the  moat  beautiful 
markings  in  their  leaves. 
Well-grown  plants  in  pots  ranging  from  4  to  6  inches  in 
diameter  are  therefore  the  most  sought  after.  Suckers,  with  leaves 
entirely  white,  may  often  be  obtained.  If  these  are  rooted  in 
small  pots,  they  often  retain  this  character  for  several  years. 
P.  javanicus  variegatus  was  at  one  time  largely  grown,  but  since 
the  introduction  of  Veitchi  the  older  species  has  been  rather 
neglected.  Both  are,  however,  thoroughly  worthy  of  being  grown, 
as  each  possesses  some  advantage  over  the  other.  Propagation  is 
easily  effected,  either  by  suckers  or  offsets.  The  former  if  allowed 
to  attain  a  suitable  size  before  being  detached  from  the  parent 
plant,  may  easily  be  removed  by  a  dexterous  twist  with  the  hand. 
The  offsets  ought  to  be  severed  from  the  base  with  a  sharp  knife. 
These  should  be  inserted  in  small  pots,  and  either  plunged  in 
bottom  heat  or  stood  on  the  hot-water  pipes  in  forcing  or  propagat¬ 
ing  houses. 
The  soil  ought  to  be  kept  rather  dry  till  roots  are  formed. 
When  rooted  the  young  plants  succeed  admirably  if  placed  on 
shelves  near  the  glass,  or  in  some  other  light  position  in  houses 
where  stove  heat  is  maintained,  the  driest  and  warmest  positions 
being  selected  for  them,  and  but  little  syringing  indulged  in.  A 
mixture  of  two  parts  light  fibrous  loam,  one  of  peat,  with  a  liberal 
addition  of  charcoal  and  sharp  sand,  forms  a  compost  in  which  the 
plants  will  grow  well,  and  retain  the  full  variegation  of  their 
leaves. 
Panicum  variegatum,  the  well  known  striped  Grass,  ought  to  be 
grown  in  quantity,  as  it  is  so  useful  for  a  variety  of  purposes.  For 
associating  with  other  materials  in  forming  edgings  for  groups  of 
plants,  or  for  draping  the  sides  of  bowls,  pedestals,  and  other  plant 
stand.®,  this  Panicum  is  indispen.sable.  Cuttings  inserted  in  sandy 
soil,  placed  in  small  pots,  root  freely  at  any  season  provided  they 
are  kspt  close,  and  in  winter  given  a  slight  bottom  heat.  August  is 
a  capital  time  to  insert  a  good  batch  of  cuttings,  which  will  form 
cheerful  looking  plants  for  use  during  the  winter  months.  If 
five  or  six  cuttings  are  inserted  in  a  3-inch  pot  they  quickly 
grow  into  a  dense  mass,  and  then  begin  to  trail  over  the  sides  of 
the  pot. 
I  bring  my  list  of  stove  plants  to  a  close  with  the  Tradescantias. 
These  require  treatment  similar  to  that  indicated  as  necessary 
for  Panicum  variegatum,  but  they  will  also  succeed  in  a  green¬ 
house  temperature  during  the  summer  months.  For  this  reason 
they  are  frequently  employed  for  covering  borders  underneath 
the  side  stages  of  cool  as  well  as  warm  structures.  The  pots  in 
which  cuttings  are  inserted  should  be  4  and  5-inch  ones,  as  the 
Tradescantias  are  vigorous  growers.  Discolor,  d.  lineata,  and 
zebrina  are  three  of  the  best  varieties  to  grow. 
Turning  to  greenhouse  plants,  I  come  to  that  showy  class  the 
Abutilons.  These  I  think  may  truly  be  described  as  the  most 
brilliantly  coloured  among  greenhouse  variegated  plants.  When 
grown  under  the  influence  of  plenty  of  light  they  rival  in  brightness 
the  most  highly  coloured  Crotons,  yet  their  cultural  requirements 
are  extremely  simple,  and  they  also  grow  very  quickly.  The 
stronger  varieties  are  the  most  effective  if  confined  to  a  single 
stem,  they  then  look  bold  and  striking  if  dotted  about  among  a 
groundwork  of  Ferns  and  other  dwarf  plants. 
The  dwarf  kinds,  on  the  other  hand,  should  be  allowed  to 
branch  freely,  or  they  may  be  pruned  into  handsome  pyramids. 
August  and  September  (as  well  as  the  early  spring)  are  good 
months  to  put  in  cuttings  of  young  wood.  These,  if  placed  in 
light  soil  and  kept  close,  will  root  quickly.  Should  the  weather  be 
dull  or  wet  it  is  necessary  to  have  them  in  a  position  where  a  little 
fire  heat  can  be  given,  otherwise  they  will  lose  some  of  their  bottom 
leaves,  which  of  course  greatly  detracts  from  their  appearance. 
Two  courses  may  be  adopted  with  plants  grown  from  cuttings 
inserted  in  September.  They  may  either  be  grown  in  a  warm 
greenhouse  and  employed  for  decorative  purposes  in  a  young  state  * 
during  the  winter  and  early  spring  months,  or  kept  cool  throughout 
the  winter,  potted  on  in  spring,  and  grown  into  fine  plants  for 
flower  garden  or  greenhouse  embellishment  during  the  summer. 
Equal  parts  loam,  leaf  soil,  and  peat,  with  a  fair  amount  of  sharp 
sand  added,  is  a  compost  in  which  they  will  succeed  well. 
Some  of  the  best  varieties  are  Darwini  tessellatum  ;  Sellowianum 
marmoratum,  large  and  striking,  one  of  the  best  ;  Thompson!,  and 
vexillarium  igneum.  Aspidistra  lurida  variegata  is  a  plant  which 
few  gardeners  have  too  large  a  stock  of,  as  it  grows  so  slowly.  Its 
lasting  qualities  as  a  room  plant  are  too  well  known  to  need 
recapitulating,  for  in  thousands  of  British  houses  healthy  plants 
which  have  spent  the  greater  part  of  their  lives  in  the  windows  of 
dwelling  rooms  may  be  met  with.  It  seems  to  me  that  market 
growers  have  scarcely  taken  the  advantage  they  might  have  done  of 
the  large  demand  which  has  so  long  existed  for  Aspidistras.  The 
plants  are  usually  treated  entirely  as  greenhouse  ones,  but  I  find 
that  during  the  summer  months  the  amount  of  growth  may  be 
considerably  increased  if  a  departure  from  the  “  beaten  track  ”  is 
taken  in  regard  to  their  management.  This  consists  in  closing  the 
houses  in  which  they  are  growing  early  in  the  afternoon,  giving  at 
the  same  time  copious  syringings  when  the  weather  is  bright. 
Those  who  have  not  tried  this  plan  with  Aspidistras  will,  I  am  sure, 
be  satisfied  with  the  result  if  they  now  do  so.  A  small  amount  of 
pot  room  should  always  be  aimed  at,  and  a  somewhat  open  soil 
formed  of  almost  any  sweet  materials  will  suit  the  plants.  Large 
plants  if  shaken  out  will  supply  numbers  of  suckers  ;  these,  if 
potted  into  small  pots,  will  in  time  make  useful  little  specimens. 
— Plantsman.  ^  ,  ... 
(To  be  continued.) 
TUBEROUS-ROOTED  BEGONIAS. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  that  these  rank  amongst  the  best 
summer-flowering  plants  at  present  in  cultivation.  If  grown 
cool,  as  they  ought  to  be,  they  are  quite  exempt  from  the  attacks 
of  such  insect  pests  as  are  common  to  many  plants  during  the 
summer  months.  This  itself  is  no  small  consideration,  espe¬ 
cially  in  establishments  where  there  is  not  sufficient  accommo¬ 
dation  to  allow  of  one  house  being  set  aside  for  one  class  of 
plants. 
As  decorative  plants  these  Begonias  are,  from  their  rich  and 
varied  colour,  all  that  can  be  desired,  lasting  in  bloom  from 
early  summer  till  far  into  the  autumn,  when  another  strong 
point  comes  in  in  their  favour,  that  of  being  easily  accommo¬ 
dated  during  the  winter.  After  they  have  been  carefully 
ripened  they  may  either  be  allowed  to  remain  in  their  pots  or 
shaken  out  and  placed  in  boxes  with  dry  soil  or  cocoa-nut  fibre 
refuse — by  the  latter  means  they  can  be  put  in  less  bulk — then 
store  in  some  dry  out-of-the-way  place  where  frost  cannot  reach 
them.  Allow  them  to  remain  there  until  they  show  signs  of 
starting  again  in  the  spring,  when  they  should  be  potted  at 
once  and  placed  in  a  cool  situation  close  to  the  glass  to  keep 
the  growth  sturdy.  If  a  batch  is  wanted  early  the  plants  may 
be  encouraged  into  quicker  growth  by  being  placed  in  gentle  heat, 
but  to  render  them  really  serviceable  they  should  be  grown  cool  all 
through. 
If  wanted  for  exhibition  purposes  named  varieties  are  certainly 
most  reliable.  Many  people  object  to  them  as  exhibition  plants, 
believing  them  to  be  “  bad  travellers.”  I  grant  that  double  varie¬ 
ties  are,  and  mainly  because  of  the  weight  of  Iheir  blooms  ;  but  I 
find  that  singles,  with  a  little  care  taken  in  tying  and  packing,  will 
travel  in  perfect  safety  for  any  reasonable  distance. 
For  ordinary  decorative  purposes  seeds  procured  from  any 
reliable  firm  will,  with  a  little  selection,  produce  all  that  could  be 
desired  ;  in  fact,  I  have  this  season  flowered  two-year-old  seedlings, 
several  of  which  are  superior  to  many  of  the  popular  named  varie¬ 
ties,  both  single  and  double.  They  are  of  such  easy  cultivation 
that  anyone  having  command  of  a  cold  pit  or  frame  need  have  no 
difficulty  in  growing  them.  A  mixture  of  fibry  loam,  with  a  large 
per-centage  of  leaf  mould  and  sand  with  a  little  well  decayed 
manure,  suits  them  well. 
With  liberal  shifts  and  plenty  of  drainage,  taking  care  to  keep 
the  necks  of  the  plants  well  up  in  potting  and  making  the  soil 
moderately  firm  (they  do  not  like  hard  potting),  fine  specimens 
may  be  grown.  Care  should  be  taken  in  watering  not  to  wet 
the  foliage.  They  do  not  like  being  exposed  to  the  full  rays  of  a 
hot  sun,  but  shading  should  be  reduced  as  much  as  possible  by 
ventilating  freely.  When  the  plants  have  made  all  the  growth 
they  are  likely  to  do  for  the  season  water  should  be  gradually 
withheld,  so  as  to  give  them  the  chance  of  drying  off  naturally. 
They  have  a  tendency  to  damp  off  if  kept  too  wet,  and  especially 
in  the  autumn,  and  careful  watering  is  the  only  sure  preventive. 
—A.  J. 
