Notes and Gleanings. 303 



Fully equal if not superior to this in beauty is Croton Veitchii, which has 

 leaves nearly a foot long, and about two inches broad, oblong-lanceolate, acute, 

 polished, having the midrib, the main veins, and the reticulations near the edge, 

 of a clear creamy yellow, which becomes suffused with deep rosy red, the inter- 

 vening transverse bars being of a deep green. The coloring of these leaves is 

 very beautiful ; and the vigorous habit of the plant, as well as the manner in 

 which it displays its foliage, are such as to place it in the front rank of orna- 

 mental-leaved stove-plants. 



We add a figure of another variety, which, though less strikingly beautiful 

 than the foregoing, is remarkably different from any of these, or indeed from 

 any other forms of the species. This is Croton aiiaibcefoliuin, — a plant which is 

 of compact habit, and has oblong-acuminate leaves, six inches or seven inches 

 long, and two inches to three inches wide, dark glossy green, studded with 

 blotches of yellow, sometimes passing into red : hence it bears a strong resem- 

 blance, in its markings at least, to the well-known Aucuba japonica. 



Of a somewhat different style of marking, but not less beautiful, is Croton 

 Hookeri, introduced from Erromango. It has oblong-lanceolate leaves, some- 

 what smaller in the examples which have been exhibited than those of the two 

 former, but marked with a broad vandyked centre of very bright clear yellow, 

 the outer margin being green. The strong contrast of color, and the regularity 

 of the marking, make this a very ornamental plant. 



Another distinct form of a strikingly ornamental character is Croton Wise- 

 manjiiatium. This has elongated leaves of a narrowly-lanceolate form, with a 

 yellow variegation ; the markings resembling those which occur in the leaves of 

 the commonly-grown C. variegatum itself. 



These plants have all been certificated at one or the other of the meetings 

 or exhibitions of the metropolis ; and may be safely recommended to the atten- 

 tion of plant-growers as very far in advance of the ordinary crotons, on which so 

 much cultural skill is now often expended. — M., in Florist and Poiiiologist. 



Celery : Weight of Plants. — We notice from a report of the Newark 

 (Eng.) Celery Society, that the samples receiving prizes weighed as follows : 

 FoV Red Celery, first prize, six pounds and ten ounces ; second prize, six pounds 

 and six ounces. For White Celery, first prize, four pounds and eleven ounces ; 

 second prize, four pounds and seven ounces. 



It was remarked, that the specimens were not so fine as usual, in consequence 

 of the long-continued drought. It v»-as also stated, that plants were exhibited 

 weighing much more than any which took prizes ; but the awards were made 

 on the ground of quality. 



Mr. Cole, who introduced the variety known as "Cole's Superb Red," ex- 

 pressed his belief, that this celery could be grown to the weight oi twelve potuids, 

 were it desirable to have it so large. 



In Great Britain, thirty million pounds sterling have been expended for 

 drainage alone, since 1845. 



The addition of sulphuric acid to bone to increase its fertilizing properties 

 was first suggested by Liebig in 1840. 



