CROTON. 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
129 
in it as when grown in good loam. They 
also like manure-water, which, when other 
things connected with their successful culti- 
vation are present, causes the leaves to come 
yellower. The treatment from a young 
state up to the largest specimens, which 
may be 6 feet or 7 feet through by as much 
in height, is of a routine character, such 
as already detailed, giving additional pot- 
room as they require it. When the plants 
get at all straggling they may be cut back or 
even headed down to within 18 inches of 
the collar, after which they will make 
specimens quite equal to young plants. If 
wanted in a small state for decoration, 
Crotons look much the best confined to a 
single stem, as when they have side 
branches they are not so elegant in ap- 
pearance. When required for use in this 
way young stock should be struck yearly. 
The long, narrow-leaved kinds, such as C. 
angustifolius—still one of the handsomest 
for all purposes—are most suitable. 
There is an immense number of sorts 
now in cultivation, very many of which 
are so far inferior to others as to make 
their growth unnecessary. The following 
are all distinct and handsome :— 
C. angustifolius. Has narrow, drooping, 
yellow and green leaves, 12 inches to 24 
inches long when well managed, and still 
unsurpassed for elegant appearance. India. 
C. Crown Prince. Leaves a foot long, 
erect, bright green ground colour, central 
rib and nerves yellow. <A bright and 
regularly variegated kind. 
C. Disraeli. One of the trilobed forms ; 
_it has wedge-shaped leaves that grow 
broader outward, dividing into two oppo- 
site equal lobes, ground colour green, the 
midrib yellow, which, together with the 
considerable portion of the leaves that 
come blotched with yellow, turn crimson 
as they get older. From the South Sea 
Islands. 
C. Evansianus. ‘Another distinct sort ; 
the leaves are lobed as in C. Disraeli ; the 
young ones pale green, heavily marked 
with yellow, as also the stalks ; the ground 
colour becomes much darker as the leaves 
get older. 
C. Hawkert. A very distinct kind, with 
medium-sized leaves, more pointed than 
C. variegatus ; three-fourths of the central 
portion of the leaves yellow, edged with 
green. 
C. Johannis. A longer-leaved variety 
than the preceding, the yellow colour 
usually darker. A fine kind from the 
South Sea Islands. 
C. majesticus. This is also a narrow 
drooping-leaved sort; the foliage whilst 
young is deep green and yellow. As it 
gets matured, the ground colour changes 
to a very dark olive, and the yellow por- 
tions become deep crimson. <A very fine 
sort from the South Sea Islands. 
C. picturatus. A most singular-habited 
variety from the New Hebrides ; the form 
of the leaves is extremely variable, some 
having the base almost heart-shaped, with 
a continuation of the midrib for several 
inches, from which again grows another 
narrow portion of leaf more or less length- 
ened, often being in all from 15 inches to 
18 inches long ; the midrib is red, the rest 
green blotched with yellow, turning to red 
when matured. 
C. Princess of Wales. A drooping-leaved 
kind, leaves about 2 feet long, ground 
colour pale green, heavily and evenly 
variegated with pale yellow. <A native of 
the New Hebrides. 
C. Queen Victoria. Leaves of medium 
length ; when well grown they get about 
12 inches long ; the greater part of the 
leaves is of the richest golden yellow, the 
midrib and principal veins magenta, ulti- 
mately becoming crimson ; the combined 
shades are very beautiful. 
C. roseo-pictus. A hybrid variety of close, 
compact habit; leaves smaller than C. 
variegatus, ground colour green, midrib 
and nerves banded with yellow; a very 
bright sort. 
C. undulatus. A very distinct and hand- 
some kind, with leaves of medium length, 
elegantly undulated in the edges, deep 
green ground colour, the midrib and much 
of the surface yellow whilst young, turn- 
ing bright crimson when fully matured. 
A native of the South Sea Islands. 
C. volutus. A very distinct kind, the 
leaves all rolled back, as its name implies ; 
ground colour green, midrib and nerves 
yellow, variegation constant and distinct. 
C. Warren. Leaves 2 feet to 24 feet 
long by an inch broad, drooping gracefully, 
deep green in colour, profusely mottled 
with yellow and red ; one of the best. <A 
native of the South Sea Islands. 
C. Weismannii. Possesses a close, dense 
habit of growth; the leaves are narrow, 
about a foot in length, ground colour 
bright green, mottled and striped with 
bright yellow. Also a native of the South 
Sea Islands. 
C. Williams. Has large, bold foliage, 
undulated on the edges; ground colour 
bright green, the greater portion of the 
surface yellow whilst the leaves are young, 
turning red with age; midrib red. 
Insects.—The smaller species, such as 
thrips and red spider, already alluded to, 
will not give much trouble if the syringing 
recommended is carried out. Mealy bug 
