150 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. [July, 



Of a somewhat different style of marking, but not less beautiful, is Ceoton 

 Hookeei, introduced from Erromango. It has oblong lanceolate leaves, some- 

 what smaller in the examples which have been exhibited than those of the two 

 former, but marked with a broad vandyked centre of very bright clear yellow, 

 the outer margin being green. The strong contrast of colour, and the regularity 

 of the marking, make this a very ornamental plant. 



Another distinct form of a strikingly ornamental character is Ceoton Wise- 

 mannianum. This has elongated leaves, of a narrowly lanceolate form, with a 

 yellow variegation, the markings resembling those which occur in the leaves of 

 the commonly grown C. variegatum itself. 



These plants have all been certificated at one or other of the meetings or 

 exhibitions of the metropolis, and may be safely recommended to the attention 

 of plant-growers, as very far in advance of the ordinary Crotons, on which so 

 much cultural skill is now often expended. M. 



IXIA CROCATA. 



'HIS charming little flower is so useful during the month of May and in the 

 early part of June, both for decorative purposes in the conservatory, and 

 also as a never-failing source of cut flowers, that it is very much to be 

 recommended, and only requires to be more generally grown to be more 

 fully appreciated. 



The culture is exceedingly simple ; and as the plant will flourish best without 

 any kind of forcing, it is advisable that the bulbs should not be potted from the 

 dry state too early in the autumn. A nice succession may be kept up by potting a 

 portion of the stock early in September, and the remainder a month or five weeks 

 later. The soil I use is about equal parts of loam, leaf -mould, and peat, with a 

 little sharp silver sand. Four flowering bulbs are enough for a 5-in. pot, and six for 

 a G-in. pot. The small bulbs which are not likely to flower maybe distributed amongst 

 and planted with the flowering bulbs when the plants are to be used for decorative 

 purposes, as they help to produce a dense mass of green foliage ; but when grown 

 for cutting purposes this is not necessary, and in that case the surplus small bulbs 

 may be sown rather thickly in seed-pans, and treated entirely with a view to the 

 production of flowering bulbs another season. 



In potting, the soil should be used in a moderately moist state, but not wet : 

 good drainage must be provided, and the pot filled firmly, without pressure. 

 The bulbs are then to be placed on the top, and pressed down about an inch 

 with the finger and thumb, and the soil pressed down gently so as to leave it 

 level a little below the margin of the pot. The pots should then be placed 

 in a cold pit, or they may be set on coal ashes, and covered with a moveable 

 frame and lights ; I prefer the latter until the approach of severe weather, when 

 they are removed to a cool pit, kept moderately dry, and from which frost is 

 entirely excluded. 



