16 THE GARDENER. [Jan. 



most capable that I know of being grown into a large plant in pro- 

 portion to the size of tlie pot : it may be looked to as the type of 

 the more upright-growing sorts, among which the following are all 

 excellent : — 



* Draccena rubra, 



* ,, ferrea variegata (stricta). 



* ,, terminalis. 

 ,, gulfoylei. 



* Dracoena regina. 



,, nigrescens. 

 , , tessalata. 

 , , robusta. 



With the exception of gulfoylei and regina, the whole of these can 

 be purchased at very moderate prices in small pots, and all of them 

 are very easily propagated and grown. Any who have irt their pos- 

 session an old or large plant of the stove varieties can, by cutting off 

 its top in spring, and potting it in sandy soil in a 3-inch pot, and 

 plunging it in a brisk bottom-heat, convert it into a nice plant in a 

 short time. The lower part of the stem can be split down its centre, 

 and each half being cut into nearly as many pieces as there are eyes or 

 buds on them, and the pieces or buds put in pans, or singly in small pots, 

 with a little pure sand under them, and a slight covering of sandy soil 

 over them, plunged in bottom-heat, and kept moderately moist, will con- 

 vert each bud into a nice little plant in a 3-inch pot the same season. 

 The soil can be shaken from the roots of the old stump, and large- 

 growing knobs or points will be found starting away from -the very 

 base of the stem, each of which knobs, cut off and potted, and managed 

 the same as buds from the stem, makes a nice plant the same year. 

 All these young plants, if necessary, shifted into 4 and 5 inch pots 

 the following spring, grow into handsome fresh young plants, suitable 

 for the table by the end of summer, and through the autumn and 

 winter. 



The Dracaena is not particular as to soil. It grows well in equal 

 parts loam and leaf-mould, with a little sand mixed in, but is the 

 better of a little turfy peat when it can be had. Young plants spoken 

 of above do best by being partially shaken out in spring. It enables 

 the grower to give more fresh soil in small compass ; and it is a good 

 plan to plunge the pots in a bed of sand, or, where such is not con- 

 venient, the small pot being placed in one a couple of sizes larger, and 

 the space filled up with sand, answers the same purpose, which is to 

 keep the balls regularly moist, and the foliage fresh and healthy, with 

 a minimum of attention in watering. 



During spring and summer they enjoy a full, warm, stove tempera- 

 ture and moisture, with regular syringings and spongings of the under 

 sides of the leaves, to keep them free from red-spider, to which some 

 of them are much subject. In winter, of course, less moisture is 

 needed. They require to be slightly shaded from bright sunshine, 



