170 GREEUHOUSB MANAGEMENT. 



house where thorough ventilation and frequent syring* 

 ings can be given ; as with the Croton, the red spider 

 and thrip are the worst enemies of these plants, and sim- 

 ilar remedies should be given. 



Dracana marginata and D. fraqrans are about the 

 only plants of that genus that are of value to the florist ; 

 D. Draco is a magnificent plant for a large conservatory, 

 while, although D. Ooldiana is a very pretty little plant, 

 it is of small value commercially. Of the Cordylines, 

 0. indivisa, Australis, grandis, and terminalis, with 

 their many varieties, are most useful. Some of the 

 varieties with large, bright-colored leaves, such as 0. 

 Alsace-Lorraine, Baptistii, imperialis and gloriosa (syn. 

 Shepherdi), present a more striking appearance in the 

 conservatory, and if carefully handled will do well for 

 decoration. 



CEOTONS (CODI^UMS). 



Few stove plants are more striking in their appear- 

 ance than well-grown Crotons (or Codiseums, as they 

 are more properly called), and none are easier to propa- 

 gate and care for. Although it is supposed that all have 

 come from not over three species, the variations in shape 

 and color of leaf, and the habits of the plant, have been 

 so great that there are hundreds of well-marked varieties 

 in cultivation. 



While Codiseums will grow at temperatures as low 

 as 50 or 55 degrees, it is better to give them 60 degrees 

 as a minimum night temperature in winter. They are 

 readily propagated by top-layering the main stem or 

 side branches, or, as is. much easier and a more common 

 method, by terminal cuttings of the half-hard wood. 

 They may be made at any time, but generally the best 

 plants are produced when started in the winter or early 

 spring. The cuttings root readily when placed in sand 

 in a propagating case or hotbed, but as they are likely 



