Gree?iho2ise and Slave 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 aie 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. 



Theie 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. 



G. Crown Prince. Leaves a foot long, 

 erect, bright green ground colour, central 

 rib and nerves yellow. A bright and 

 regularly variegated kind. 



G. Disraeli. One of the trilobed forms ; 

 it has wedge-shaped leaves that grow 

 broader outward, dividing into two ojjpo- 

 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. 



G. 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. 



G. Hawheri. 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. 



G. Johannis. A longer-leaved variety 

 than the preceding, the yellow colour 

 usually darker. A fine kind from the 

 South Sea Islands. 



G. majestiais. 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 

 soi't fiom the South Sea Islands. 



G. piduratus. 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. 



G. 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. 



G. 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-jnctus. 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. 



G. 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. 



G. volutus. A very distinct kind, the 

 leaves all rolled back, as its name implies ; 

 ground colour green, midrib and nerves 

 yellow, A^ariegation constant and distinct. 



G. Warrenii. Leaves 2 feet to 2^ 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. 



G. 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. 



G. Williamsii. 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 hv'T 



