i6o 



Commercial Gardening 



Fig. 274. Codiseum (broad-leaved) 



Crotons require plenty of 

 heat and moisture and a fair 

 amount of sunshine to develop 

 the rich colours of the foliage. 

 Plants may be grown in all sizes 

 of pots from 3 in. up to 10 in. 

 and 12 in., but the most popular 

 size for market is that grown in 

 5-in. pots (48's). The leaves are 

 highly valued in the florist trade, 

 being largely used for backing up 

 the flowers in wreaths, crosses, 

 &c., and for intermingling with 

 effect in bouquets of various 

 descriptions. The broad-leaved 

 varieties (fig. 274) are appreciated 

 for some kinds of work, while the 

 narrow-leaved sorts (fig. 275) are 

 favoured for other purposes; and 

 the trade is not a fleeting one, 

 but lasts the whole year round. 

 The prices obtained for foliage 

 vary from 9d. to ls.6dper bunch; 

 while plants realize anything from Is. 6cZ. to 3s. 6cZ. each in 5-in. pots. 



Crotons flourish in good fibrous loamy soil, with a dash of leaf mould 



or well-rotted manure, to which 

 a little basic slag may be added. 

 The plants should have a mini- 

 mum winter temperature of 65 

 to 70 F. During the spring, 

 summer, and autumn months 

 the atmosphere should be kept 

 humid yet buoyant, and during 

 rapid growth copious supplies 

 of water are given, and also nu- 

 merous syringings. The main 

 point is to keep the plants grow- 

 ing rapidly, and if fairly well 

 exposed to the sunshine they 

 will develop fine colour and be 

 harder in texture. 



To secure nice shapely plants 

 on single stems, cuttings of 

 fairly well-ripened shoots will 

 root freely in late summer or 

 Fi g .275.-codiamm(narrow-ieaved> early autumn in a gritty com- 



