20 STOVE FOLIAGE PLANTS. 



best in well-drained pots, in a mixture of equal portions of 

 fibry loam, peat, and leaf-mould, with a sprinkling of silver 

 sand. A moist stove temperature and copious supplies of 

 water at the root, with daily syringings and shade from bright 

 sunshine, grows them well. After the pots are well filled with 

 roots, clear liquid manure may be given once a week ; but it 

 must not be overdone, to cause rank growth and loss of colour 

 in the foliage. They require to have a thorough rest during 

 winter, but they must be kept in the stove and water with- 

 held, as they do not bear cold with impunity. 



DIEFFENBACHIA. 



A free-growing and very effective genus of fine foliage plants, 

 which, under liberal treatment, produce fine exhibition speci- 

 mens in a comparatively short time. Some of the finest for 

 this purpose are D. Baraqidniana, D. Bausei, D, Jenmanii, 

 and D. Weirii superha. Being natives of the tropical parts of 

 South America, they require a high temperature and abundance 

 of moisture to grow them well. They delight in rich open 

 compost, of turfy loam and peat, with leaf-mould and sand 

 freely intermixed, and a little dry cow-dung rubbed down 

 amongst it. After the roots have reached the side of the 

 pots, they are much benefited by frequent doses of clear liquid 

 manure. 



DKACiENA. 



Like the Croton, the Dractena is indispensable to the exhibi- 

 tor of foliage plants. Numerous varieties, with richly coloured 

 leaves and graceful habit, have appeared during recent years, 

 among which it is easy to select good kinds for exhibition. 

 They thrive well in rich fibry loam, with a little peat, sand, 

 and nodules of charcoal, and should be grown in an atmos- 

 phere saturated with moisture and shaded from bright sun, 

 to fully develop the leaves. With abundance of moisture in 

 the air, no syringing should be necessary, and as a rule they 

 are finer without it. Dracaenas are extremely easy to pro- 

 pagate, as every inch of the stem will root and grow, inserted 



