142 



Commercial Gardening 



To these may be added DycJcia princeps (or altissima), a pretty little 

 Bromeliad having rosettes of sharp -pointed sword -shaped leaves, striped 

 with white and green beneath, and armed with strong brown spines on 

 the edges. [P. A. c.] 



Caladium. A genus of tuberous-rooted Aroids from Tropical America, 

 remarkable for their broadly arrow-shaped leaves of membranous texture, 

 often brightly coloured and veined, and varying in size from a few inches 

 long to a couple of feet. The colours also vary from almost pure white 

 to deep crimson, purple, bronze, pink, &c., the leaves in many instances 

 being conspicuously blotched and marbled with quite distinct colours. 

 The plants are easily grown in a stovehouse, and like abundance of water 



during growth. A compost of turfy 

 loam, leaf mould, or peat, or old cow 

 manure and silver sand in equal 

 proportions, and well mixed, suits 

 them perfectly. When growth is 

 over, the tubers are rested in a tem- 

 perature not below 60 or 70 F. 

 The natural species are rarely seen, 

 being eclipsed in beauty by the many 

 lovely hybrids that have been raised, 

 and said to number over 2000. The 

 best -known species is argyrites, 

 which is largely grown on account 

 of its comparative hardiness. C. es- 

 culenta (Colocasia), from the Sand- 

 wich Islands, is now used for sub- 

 tropical bedding in summer with a 

 closely related plant Colocasia 



antiquorum both having large oval heart-shaped leaves. Caladiums are 

 raised from suckers, seeds, and by division of the tubers (fig. 270). 



Calathea. A genus of stove plants closely related to the Marantas, 

 and like them having ornamentally variegated leaves. They like a com- 

 post of sandy loam and peat, and are increased by division. 



Calceolaria. The Shrubby Calceolarias said to be descendants of 

 the Chilian G. rugosa are almost hardy in the milder parts of the king- 

 dom, and during the summer months at least they are used in thousands 

 for bedding-out purposes. Being dwarf, sturdy, and compact in habit, and 

 not requiring any stakes, they are well suited for this work, especially 

 as their pouch-like flowers of gorgeous yellow, crimson, or maroon, are 

 produced with great freedom. The plants are raised from cuttings in 

 September and October. Non-flowering well-ripened young shoots from 

 the base of the old plants are preferred as cuttings. They are inserted 

 in very sandy well-drained soil in cold frames. Here they pass the winter, 

 receiving, however, plenty of light and as much air as possible, after being 

 rooted, in genial weather. Sharp frost must be excluded by mats or other 



Fig. 270.-Caladium 



