CHAP. XIII VILLA GARDENING 219 



oiir hothouses, the better the results. All through the growing 

 season a night temperatiu'e of 70° will be necessary, and in order 

 to colour them effectively the plants must be grown near the glass, 

 as they will not put on the colour properly in the shade, nor yet if 

 far from the glass. Crotons and Dracaenas especially must have 

 all the light possible to colour them well. Yoimg plants may be 

 grown best in peat and sand, but as they get larger and older, a 

 few rough nodules of loam may be added, and I have seen them 

 well grown in pure loam of very superior quality. Caladiums 

 are commonly grown in peat, but the best collection of these 

 I have ever seen were grown in loam, with a liberal allowance 

 of old manure. When grown in light soil, the leaves lack the 

 strength and substance which a more substantial diet never fails 

 to give. Caladiums are often injured by drjang too much in 

 winter. If alloM-ed to get too dry the plants decay and die when 

 placed in heat again, unless they have been exceptionally well 

 grown. A well -grown crown has more vitality than a ibadly- 

 fed specimen, and consequently will eudm-e treatment that 

 would kill a plant whose growth had been less firmly built up. 

 But under any circimistances Caladiiuns should never be allowed 

 to get dust dry. As the leaves tiu-n colour, water should be 

 given less frequently to aid the ripening process. While they 

 sink to rest they may be placed under the stage, to be looked 

 at occasionally, and enough water given to keep them plump 

 and fresh. Three or four times through the winter will probably 

 suffice for this. As soon as growth begins in spring, they must be 

 shaken out and repotted in clean pots and fresh compost, and from 

 this time forward shoidd occupy a light position, Tsith only a very 

 thin shade in bright weather in summer. If the plants are spinged, 

 xerj great care shoidd be exercised in using nothing but the piu-est 

 rain water ; their large, brilliant, glossy leaves are very susceptible, 

 the least impurity spoiling their effectiveness, and plants that are 

 much sponged never carry the highest finish. This remark ap2:)lies 

 more especially to Caladiums and Alocasias, though with all foli- 

 age plants the cleaner the conditions under which they are grown 

 the better, if they are to arrive at the very pitch of perfection of 

 leafage. 



Propagation of Stove Plants. — The tuberous and bulbous- 

 rooted plants increase themselves by offsets, which can be taken 

 off when the repotting is done — preferably in spring. A few 

 genera, such as Gloxinias and Begonias, in the case of scarce kinds, 

 may be increased by cuttings of leaves. Some, such as the Bou- 

 vardias, strike freely from root cuttings — that is, by taking off pieces 

 of the thick fleshy roots a couple of inches long, and inserting them 



