STOVE PLANTS. 



263 



" As for the leaves, that in the garden bloom, 

 My love for them is great, as is the good 

 Dealt by the Eternal Hand that tends them all." 



Dante, Paradise. 



There are many varieties of Croton which are exceedingly beautiful ; 

 of these the C. variegatum angusiifolium (fig. 540) is most desirable, 

 for the grace of its long narrow leaves, which are pendant. Small 

 croton plants are very beautiful on the dinner-table. 



Fig. S40.— Croton angustifolium. 



" Fig. S41 a — Bertolonia maculata. 

 Fig. 541. — Alocasia metallica. 



The Alocasia metallica (fig. 541) is another extraordinary plant from 

 Borneo, which requires a stove temperature, and yields most splendid- 

 looking leaves. It, however, occupies too much space in the limited stove- 

 house which I possess. We have some beautiful dwarf variegated leaf 

 plants, of which Fittonia argyrea^{^%. S37«) and Bertolonia maculata 

 (fig. 541^) are good examples. 



Amongst the stove bulbs the Gloxinias (fig, 542) are easily grown, 

 and present great varieties. They may be readily 

 propagated by leaves which, when pegged upon 

 the earth, form numerous little bulbs. Varieties 

 can also be raised from seed. We propagate 

 both kinds in the Cucumber-house, — the one 

 with upright flowers, the other with drooping 

 blossoms. 



The Pancratiums are also charming hot-house fig. 542-Gioxima.s. 

 bulbs. I have the P. zeylanicnm (fig. 543). which grows well in my 



