March  16,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
217 
with  them,  but  the  quantity  obtained  was  more  than  sufficient  for  our 
requirements.  One  thing  was  noticed,  however — viz.,  that  the  last 
plants  taken  from  the  seed  pan  were  of  low  vitality,  and  remained 
weak  and  puny  for  some  time.  All  are  now,  in  less  than  eighteen 
months  from  sowing,  strong  healthy  plants,  3  feet  high,  with  stout 
stems,  and  having  long  since  been  root-bound  are  abotit  to  be  trans¬ 
ferred  into  oak  tubs  16  inches  deep  by  16  inches  across  the  top. 
These  tubs,  having  been  neatly  covered  with  virgin  cork,  are  intended 
for  various  vantage  points  of  the  rockwork  in  a  large  conservatoiy, 
attaching  itself  to  any  bare  bit  of  damp  "wall,  similar  in  manner  to 
Ficus  repens.  In  its  peculiar  Aroid-like  inflorescence  and  singularly 
striking  fruit,  springing  erect  through  the  large  leather}'  leaves  from 
horizontal  stems,  the  Monstera  is  par  excellence  one  of  the  handsomest, 
and  probably  the  most  interesting  plant  for  the  purpose  of  beautifying 
a  warm  conservatory. 
Totally  distinct  ic  habit  and  appearance,  yet  eijually  handsome, 
is  the  Papyrus,  a  plant  rarely  seen  outside  ol  botanical  collections. 
Papyrus  antiquorum  is  indeed  a  plant  worthy  of  place  wherever  the 
and  the  plants  thus  treated  are  readily  adapted  to  temporary  use  in 
the  dwelling  house.  i\Iusas,  it  must  be  admitted,  are  not,  in  a  sense, 
good  house  plants,  but  there  is  a  charm  in  their  fresh  green  noble 
foliage,  heartily  welcomed  upon  special  occasions. 
Monstera  deliciosa,  in  its  ([uaiutlycut  handsome  foliage,  interesting 
habit,  and  luscious  fruit,  has  few  rivals,  and  one  wonders  that  it  is  so 
rarely  met  with.  True  it  is  a  tropical  plant,  but  nevertheless  flourishes 
under  semi-tropical  treatment,  and  objects  not  to  a  minimum 
temperature  of  50°  during  the  dark  days  of  winter.  Planted  well  up 
in  the  rockwork  attached  to  a  back  wall  it  enjoys  the  position  if  fairly 
warm  and  moist,  and  rambles  away  at  its  own  sw'eet  will,  eventually 
desire  exists  to  give  a  tropical  tone  and  that  one  touch  of  nature  so 
often  conspicuous  by  its  absence  from  the  conservatory.  Enjoying, 
as  it  does,  the  humidity  of  stove  treatment,  it  is  not  wholly  exclusive 
in  its  requirements,  lor  in  one  ])iace  within  touch  it  has  lieen  success¬ 
fully  introduced  into  what  was  an  oiangery,  now  converted  into  a 
winter  jjjiirdeo,  where  the  desideratum  ot  a  miiiimuiu  temperature  of 
50°  is  not  always  maintained  during  wunter.  Springing  from  an 
informal  bed  of  rockwork,  all  but  hidden  by  a  natuial  growth  ol 
humbler  things,  this  giant  Cyperus  appears  to  bo  particularly  happy 
in  the  position.  Given  the  presence  of  its  element — water-— in  the 
form  of  a  tiny  jiool  or  miniature  bog,  which  is  appropriate  to  its  taste 
