Er 
‘231 
‘cising their proper functions in maturing the sap, the 
bulb will not flower the next Autumn. The class are 
universally poisonous. 
~—_— 
FANCY LEAVED CALADIUMS. 
4: GENUS of highly ornamental plants, of very easy 
== growth. The greater number ef the species are 
deciduous, and therefore occupy but little space during 
qr 
- the Winter months, which is a great advantage, as at 
that season of the year most amateurs find their plant 
houses rather crowded, because then all tender plants 
must have protection. Caladiums require to be potted 
in turfy loam, peat, leaf mould, and well decomposed 
manure, in about equal parts, adding some river sand. 
The size of pots, and number of shifts necessary, must be 
entirely regulated by the size of the specimens required; 
if only small plants are needed, then plant them in less 
rich compost and keep them in small pots; but if size is 
the object, then it is scarcely possible to be over liberal 
with them. We have had a great number of new forms 
of these plants during the past few years, many of them 
exquisitely colored, but in most instances they are but 
variations of some previously known kind. After the 
beauty of these plants begin to fade, less water should be 
given, gradually decreasing the quantity until it is 
entirely withheld. By this time the foliage will all be 
dead and the roots at rest, and we wish particularly to 
warn amateurs respecting their treatment at this period. 
It is the common practice to stow them away upon 
shelves, quite dry, and thus they remain for several 
‘months—that is, until the Spring. Now it frequently 
- happens, that when the bulbs are turned out for potting 
at this season, nothing but the outside shell remains ; 
