18 STOVE FOLIAGE PLANTS. 



manure improves the size and brightness of the colour of tlie 

 foliage. Being a deciduous plant, it should be kept rather dry 

 during the winter, receiving just suificient water to keep the 

 wood from shrivelling. It should be pruned, re-potted, and 

 started in a moist stove about three months previous to the 

 show, so as to have the foliage fresh and perfect. Vigorous 

 j'oung specimens produce the finest leaves ; and as the plant 

 is readily increased by cuttings, a succession of plants is easily 

 maintained. 



UKOTOX. 



Almost the whole of the numerous varieties of variegated- 

 leaved Crotons make first-rate exhibition plants, and most of 

 them can be grown into fine specimens in a comparatively 

 short time. They take a high place among foliage plants, and 

 when well grown and their rich colours brought out to perfec- 

 tion, they are objects of great attraction. They grow luxuri- 

 antly in a high temperature, with a close, moist atmosphere; 

 and to obtain that, the ventilators require to be kept rather 

 close, admitting air by the side ones only, and shading the 

 roof to prevent the sun scorching the plants. In such a tem- 

 perature the plants make the largest leaves and freest growth. 

 When the plants have made their growth, the shading should 

 be gradually dispensed with, and all the light and air possible 

 admitted, while keeping up the high temperature, to colour 

 the foliage to perfection. The plants should be thoroughly 

 drenched with the syringe in the afternoon in summer, and in 

 the forenoon in winter. A good syringing with soap-suds — 

 two ounces of soft soap dissolved in a gallon of water is sufii- 

 ciently strong — once a week is beneficial to keep off insects, 

 as well as to give the leaves a clean, healthy appearance. 

 They succeed best in a turfy loam of a medium texture, with 

 a little bone-meal, nodules of charcoal and sandstone added 

 according as the nature of the loam requires them. The pots 

 must be well drained, and the plants must never be allowed 

 to get dry at the root, which immediately affects the foliage 

 and spoils it. Large specimens growing in pots full of their 

 roots may have an occasional «upply of weak liquid manure, 



