TENDER HANDSOME FOLIAGE PLANTS. 47 



a moist atmosphere, and for soil a compost of sandy turfy- 

 loam, sandy fibrous peat, and decayed leaves. To make 

 the variegation clear, the plants should be kept to a small 

 pot, in proportion to their size. They are curious in being 

 propagated by the leaf. The ribs of the leaf may be cut into 

 divisions, laid flat on the surface of a pot of sand, and 

 pegged down with little hooked sticks. The pot is placed 

 in heat, covered with a bell glass and shaded, the air 

 within being kept rather moist. In a short time roots 

 will spring from the base of each division, and young 

 leaves will appear, forming a new plant, which may be 

 taken up and potted. It should be returned to close 

 moist heat until it takes to growing, when it may be 

 gradually introduced to light and air. 



Dracaena ferrea versicolor, or various-coloured ter- 

 minal Dragon-tree, is an evergreen of splendid growth, 

 requiring a temperature of 70 to 80 in summer and 

 50 to 60 in winter. It grows from ten to fifteen 

 feet high, with leaves a foot long, brilliantly tinted 

 with rich dark green, and shades of scarlet and crimson. 

 Dracana ferrea is of similar growth, but with foliage of 

 a rich dark shade of crimson ; very beautiful, and making 

 a fine contrast with foliage of any lighter colour. 



These fine plants are not difficult to increase. Cut 

 the naked stem of a tall plant into pieces two inches long, 

 and bury them entirely in sandy soil, with half an inch 

 of sand over the tops. Plunge the pot in a strong 

 bottom heat, give but little water, and most likely every 

 piece will grow. When they are potted off, let the young 

 roots be carefully preserved, place them under a hand 

 glass until they begin to grow, then harden them gradu- 

 ally, and re-pot them as they require it. The top may 

 be used as a cutting, in sand, with bottom heat, under a 

 bell glass, and will make a fine plant sooner than the bits. 

 Mature plants should be stopped in the leading shoot 

 to make them spread. The soil should be a compost of 

 loam, peat, and leaf-mould. 



There are several plants of the Croton tribe which are 

 beautifully variegated in foliage. Croton variegata is an 

 evergreen shrub, growing from eight to ten feet high, 



