ORNAMENTAL FOLIAGE PLANTS. 



CONTRIBUTED BY MR. J. M. GLEESON, 

 SUPERINTENDENT OF THE AGRI-HORTICULTURAL GARDENS. 



CROTONS. 



THIS interesting genus of plants, which are chiefly natives of 

 New Guinea, the Moluccas, and South Sea Islands, has deserv- 

 edly gained a place in popular favour of late years. When this 

 useful little hand-book of gardening made its appearance in 

 1859, these plants were almost unknown, the old Croton Pictum 

 and Variegatum being the only two kinds in general cultivation. 

 Owing to their liability to variation, both under artificial fertiliz- 

 ation, and by the agency of insects in their native country, an 

 enormous number of strange-formed and brilliant-coloured 

 foliaged plants have resulted. Artificial crossing still presents 

 a wide field for the introduction of new varieties, which may 

 probably transcend in beauty all those now or heretofore in 

 cultivation. 



To increase our stock of any desirable kind which we may 

 have from seedlings or from older varieties, propagation from 

 cuttings is the most certain to produce nice plants in a short 

 time. The cuttings should be three to five inches long, from the 

 young growth, taking care that the base is tolerably firm, but 

 not woody, as these latter take longer to form roots. The lower 

 two or three leaves may be cut away, but the upper leaves 

 should be left intact. They may be put down to strike in any 

 ordinary garden soil, but pure white sand, not sea sand, is the 

 most convenient medium in which to insert the cuttings, taking 

 care to slightly water the sand before insertion and a good 

 watering after to settle the cuttings firm. Large seed pans, with 



