Prestonia
(named in honour of C. Preston, M.D., a correspondent of Ray). SYNS. Exothostemon and Haemadictyon. ORD. Apocynaceae. A genus comprising about thirty species of tall, climbing, twining, hirsute, pubescent or glabrous, stove shrubs, natives of tropical America. Cymes often densely corymbose or almost umbelliform, pseudo-axillary, sessile or shortly pedunculate. Leaves opposite, penniveined. Perhaps the only species worthy of mention is the one here described. It should be grown in a stove, and potted in a light, loamy soil. It makes a pretty specimen when trained upon pillars or a balloon trellis. Propagated by cuttings, rooted under a bell glass, in bottom heat. P. venosa (veined). fl. yellowish-green, pale in the centre, in drooping racemes. June. l. lanceolate, glabrous, beautifully traversed by crimson veins. St. Vincent, 1821. SYN. Echites nutans (B. M. 2473). PRICKING OFF, or PRICKING OUT. A term in constant use, which is applied to the removal of small seedling plants from the position in which they have been reared, and their insertion in single pots, or at a wider distance apart in pots, pans, or beds, where there is more space in which they may grow. The object is that of encouraging growth, and getting plants sufficiently strong to be placed in their permanent quarters without fear of injury. Pricking Out is generally best practised so soon as the first leaves appear after those which the seed produces from its interior. The necessity for this work may be much lessened by thin sowing; but still there are numerous instances in which it is unavoidable. Small plants, when Pricked Out, must receive every attention until they become so far established as, to a certain extent, to take care of themselves, and get large enough for transplanting or potting permanently.