THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 257 
NOTES ON CALADIUMS. 
(With Colowred Illustration of Caladium Chantini.) 
BY WILLIAM JORDAN, 
Head Gardener, Cazinaro House, Wimbledon, S.W. 
mM ALADIUMS have much to recommend them to the 
notice of amateurs who are partial to plants with 
foliage remarkable for its beauty; and it is not a 
matter for surprise that they should have become 
~ immensely popular. They are alike remarkable for 
nobility of aspect and the splendour of their leaf tints; and not 
the least important of their characteristic features is the compara- 
tive ease with which specimens of the most magnificent character 
may be produced. To cultivate them successfully, or indeed at all, 
the assistance of the temperature of a plant stove is essential. The 
specific forms from which the large number of hybrids now in culti- 
vation have been raised, are mostly natives of the most tropical 
parts of South America, consequently they require a comparatively 
high temperature to maintain them in a healthy condition. 
Several of the most valuable species, including Caladium Chantini, 
which, as will be seen by the accompanying illustration, has leaves 
remarkable for the richness of their marking, and C. argyrites, 
which is of dwarf growth, and one of the most valuable table plants we 
have, have been introduced from the banks of the Amazon. They 
are, nevertheless, mostly hardy enough to admit of their being 
employed in the embellishment of the conservatory for a period of 
six weeks or two months during the summer season ; but a stove 
temperature is essential for promoting a free growth in the early 
part of the year, and for the preservation of the corms when at 
rest during the winter months. 
Caladiums require a distinct season of growth and of rest, and, 
in the ordinary course, the first-mentioned of the two seasons com- 
mences in February. The corms may, with the assistance of a brisk 
bottom-heat, be started into growth in January ; but as the plants 
are not required for decorative purposes until after midsummer, it 
is asa rule preferable to keep them quiet until the end of February or 
the early part of March, and then place them under conditions most 
fayourable to their making a vigorous growth from the first. In 
- the first place, turn them out of the pots and remove all the old soil 
in which they were grown the previous season from about the 
corms, then proceed to pot them according to the purpose for which 
they are required. If small plants are wanted for table decoration, 
put them in five-inch pots, one medium-sized corm to each. Plants 
of a suitable size for vases and for general decorations, may be 
produced by employing six-inch pots, and putting one large corm, 
or two of medium size, into each. To produce large specimens, use 
ten-inch pots, and put from three to five corms, according to their 
17 
September, 
