STOVE PLANTS,] HORTICULTURE 265 help very much towards a successful blooming. In ventilating, cold draughts must be avoided. The following are select miscellaneous stove plants : Hibiscus rosa sinensis miniatus semi- plenus, and its varieties refulgens, zebrinus, puniccus, Collerii, lulgi- dus, schizopetalus, and Cooperii. Hoya imperialis, carnosa, campaim- lata, and bella. Ipomoea Hursfalliic and Learii. Ixoracoccinnea, Colei, javanicu, splen dens, regina, and Williarasii. Luculia gratissima. Maranta fasciata, albo-lineata, roseo- lineata, Makoyana, regalis, roseo- picta, Veitchii, zebrina, and Massau- geaua. Medinilla magnifica and amabilis. IS elumbium s])eciosum. Nepenthes (Pitcher- Plant) Veitchii, sanguinea, Isevis, Stewartii, Wil liamsii, Houkeri, and Raftlesiana. Xymphsea Devoniana, dentata, and ccerulea. Pandanus graniinifolius, elegan- tissimus, Vandermeerschii, and Veitchii. Passillora Raddiana (kermesina), Decaisneana, Buouapartea, Hahnii, cdulis, and princeps racemosa. Pavetta borbonica. Pentas carnea rosea. Plumbago rosea. Rogiera cordata and gratissima. Rondeletia speciosa major. Stephanotis florihunda. Sphaerogyne latifolia. Thyrsacanthus rutilans. Tillandsia mnsaica, tessellata, Lin- deniana, and Zahnii. Tornelia fragrans (Monstera delici- osa). Victoria regia. Vinca rosea, rosea oculata, and rosea alba. Aoalypha tricolor (Wilkesiana). jEschynanthus Boschianus, Lobbi- anus, andsplendens. Allainanda C helsoni, Schottii, gran- diflora, Henderson!, and nobilis. Alocasia Jenningsii, Lowii, Veitchii, macrorrhiza variegata, and metal- lica. Anthurium crystallinum, regale, War- ocqueanum, Veitchii, magnincum, Scherzeriaiium, and Andreauum. Aphelandra nitons and Roezlii. Aralia elegantissima, fllicifolia, and Veitchii. Ardisia crenulata and Oliver!. Aristolochia Duchartrei and flori- bunda. Bertolouia supcrbissiina and Van Houttei. Bignonia Chamberlaynii and venusta. Bougainvillea glabra and spectabilis. Centropogon Lucyanus. Cissus discolor. Clerodendrum fallax, Balfourianum, and splendens. Combretum purpuretim. Croton angustifolius, trilolnis Dis raeli, Andrcanus, gloriosus, majesti- cus, undulatus, Wcismanni, spiralis, and Williamsii. Cyanophylluin magnincum. Dielfcnbachia Bausei, Leopoldii, Carderi, and splendens. Dipladcnia Brearleyana, regina, and amabilis. Ficus elastica (India-rubber Plant). lYanciscea cximia, calyciua, mag nifica, and confertiflora. Gardenia Stanleyana, citriodora, and florida. Gesnera Cooperii, Donckelaari, and superba. 99. Achimenes have scaly tubers, which are kept dry and in a state of rest in a temperature of 55 during the winter months, and started into growth about March, a second batch being started in April. They should bo placed 6 inches asunder in pans filled to within 1^ inches of the rim with leaf-mould or cocoa-refuse, made rather sandy, and slightly covered with the soil. The pans should be set in a warm pit or frame, and the soil kept slightly moistened, and when the young shoots are a couple of inches long they may be placed six or eight in a G-iiicli pot, in a soil of three parts librous loam and tvo parts leaf-mould, mixed with a little sand. The temperature should be from 65 to 70, and they should be well exposed to light. When 6 inches long, pinch out the points to induce them to branch, and give more water, syringing overhead to keep red spider in check. As soon as the flower buds appear, give weak manure water two or three times a week. They should all through their growth have sufficient air to keep them from getting drawn, and when the flowers begin to open should be gradually inured to bear the tem perature of the conservatory. When they show signs of going to rest, less water may be given ; and after the tops have died down, the tubers may be stored in dry sand in a temperature of about 55. Achimenes have also a fine effect grown in wire baskets from the roof of the plant house. The following arc good kinds: Ambroise Verschaffelt, belmontensis, Firefly, longillora alba, longiflora major, Mauve Queen, Parsonsii, Rose Queen, Stella, and Williamsii. 100. Amaryllis. This genus, also called Hippeastrum, consists of splendid bulbous plants, of easy culture and free-blooming habit. Like other bulbs they are increased by offsets, which should be care fully removed when the plants are at rest, and should be allowed to attain a fair size before removal. These young bulbs should be potted singly in February or March, in mellow loamy soil with a moderate quantity of sand, about two-thirds of the bulb being kept above the level of the soil, which should be made quite solid. They should be removed to a temperature of 60 by night and 70 by day, very carefully watered until the roots have begun to grow freely, after which the soil should be kept moderately moist. As they advance the temperature should be raised to 70 at night, and to 80" or higher with sun heat by day. They do not need shading, but should have plenty of air, and be syringed daily in the afternoon. When growing they require a good supply of water. After the decay of the flowers they should be returned to a brisk moist temperature of from 70 to 80 by day during summer to perfect their leaves, and then be ripened off in autumn. Through the winter they should have less water, but must not be kept entirely dry. The minimum temperature should now be about 55, to be increased 10 or 15 in spring. As the bulbs get large they will occasionally need shifting into larger pots. A few of the best sorts are A ckermanni pulclierrima, aulica, conspicua, Duchess of Connaught, Hercules, Leopoldii, Meteor, Mrs Baker, Mrs Morgan, Oriflamme, pardina, pyrrochroa, Queen Victoria, striata superba, Thalia, Unique, Virgil, and vittata. New varieties are being constantly raised. 101. Begonias are represented by numerous species, herbaceous Begonia, and subshrubby. There are several free-flowering hybrids, such as B. weltoniensis, Saundersii, fuchsioides, prestoniensis, ascotiensis, &c. ; there is the group of ornamental-leaved kinds represented byB. Rex ; and there is the tuberous-rooted free-blooming brilliant race, developed recently, mainly from B. boliviensis and B. Veitchii. Cuttings from flowering begonias root freely in sandy soil, placed in heat at any season when moderately firm, and as soon as rooted should be potted singly into 3-inch pots, in sandy loam mixed with leaf-mould and sand. They should be stopped to keep them bushy, placed in a light situation, and thinly shaded in the middle of very bright days. In a few weeks they will require another shift. They should not be overpotted, but instead assisted by manure water. The pots should be placed in a light pit near the roof glass. The sum mer-flowering kinds will soon commence blooming, but the autumn and winter-flowering sorts should be kept growing on in a tempera ture of from 55 3 to 60 by night, with a few degrees more in the day. | The tuberous-rooted sorts require to be kept at rest in winter, in a medium temperature, almost but not quite dry. In February I they should be potted in a compost of sandy loam and leaf-mould, and placed in a temperate pit until May or June, when they may i be moved to the greenhouse for flowering. If they afterwards get at all pot-bound, weak manure should be applied. After blooming the supply of water must be again slackened, and in winter the plants should be stored in a dry place, secure from frost ; they are increased by late summer and autumn cuttings, after being partially cut down. 102. JBouvardia. These plants are best increased by cuttings Bou- taken off in April, and placed in a brisk heat in a propagating frame vardia. with a close atmosphere. When rooted they should be potted singly into 3-inch pots in fibrous peat and loam, mixed with one-fourth leaf-mould, and a good sprinkling of sand, and kept in a tempera ture of 70 by night and 80 during the day ; shade when required; syringe overhead in the afternoon, and close the house with sun- heat. The plants should be topped to ensure a bushy habit, and as they grow must be shifted into 6-inch or 7-inch pots. After midsummer they should be moved to a cool pit, where they may re main till the middle of September, receiving plenty of air and space. They should then be removed to a house, and a portion of the plants should be put at once in a temperature of about 70 at night, with a few degrees higher in the day time, to bring them into flower. Others must be moved into heat to supply flowers in succession through the winter and spring. Some of the best kinds are B. elegans, Hogarth, jasminiflora, Maiden s Blush, and Yreelandii. 103. Cactus. This old-fashioned name includes many modern Cactus. genera of handsome or interesting succulents, the principal of which are briefly mentioned below. Ccrcvs is well represented by C. speciosissimus, a quadrangular-stemmed spiny plant, requiring stove heat, and a loamy soil freely mixed with hard drainage material ; it must not be overpotted. Echinocactus is a genus of dwarf fleshy spiny plants, which are slow growers, and must have plenty of sun heat ; they require sandy loam, with a mixture of sand and bricks finely broken, and must be potted firmly, and kept dry in winter. Echinopsis is a group of dwarfish plants resembling the Echinocacti, which bear flowers about a foot long, varying from white to deep rose. Epiphyllum is a group of handsome plants easily increased from cuttings, but from their drooping habit they are better adapted for grafting onthePereskia, so as to form small standards. The Pereskia stocks are struck during the winter or spring from cuttings placed in heat, and should be grown in sandy loam, the pots being well drained ; these must be kept to a single stem, and when a foot or 18 inches high, and of a firm woody texture, should be grafted with small pieces of the Epiphyllum. They may be grown for a con siderable time in 6-inch or 7-inch pots, but must have free drainage. After grafting they should be grown on in heat and in plenty of light through the summer, but by the autumn should have less warmth and moisture. A winter temperature of 50 will be suffi cient, but in January a portion may be started in a temperature of 60, in which they will soon show flower. This treatment being continued they will last for many years, and go on increasing in size. There are a number of varieties of E. truncatum, differing chiefly in the amount and shade of rose colour or crimson in the flowers. Mammillaria consists of very interesting dwarf globular or cylin drical plants, remarkable for the beautiful colour of their numerous spines, and the irregular arrangement of the mammilla: into which their surface is broken up. They grow freely in a cool greenhouse, and require moderate watering in summer, with occasional syringing overhead. The spines are in some species white, in others yellow, or red, or brown, or almost black. Opuntia is the prickly pear of southern Europe, or Indian fig of South America ; the species are scarcely ornamental plants, but are interesting on account of their variable development. The cochineal insect is reared on some of the larger-growing sorts. O. vulgaris and Rafinesquiana are hardy in the south of England. Plnjllocactus is one of the most ornamental genera of cacti, and is of easy culture, requiring dry stove treatment. Cuttings strike readily in spring before growth has commenced ; they should be potted in 3-inch or 4-inch pots, well-drained, in loamy soil made very porous by the .admixture of finely-broken crocks anil
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