POPULAR GARDEN PLANTS. 



429 



Codiseum (Croton). — The Crotons of gar- 

 dens are all forms of a single species of Codiseum, 

 long cultivated as a decorative plant in the 



Fig. 530.— Codiaeum (broad-leaved). 



tropics, and first introduced into this country 

 by Loddiges, who figured a form of it in his 

 Botanical Cabinet (t. 870) under the name of 

 Croton pictum. It was also figured in the Botani- 

 cal Magazine, t. 3051 (1831), under the name of 

 Codiceum pictum. Its correct botanical name is 

 Codmum variegatum, and it is a native of the 

 Molucca Islands, although now semi -wild in 

 many parts of the tropics, where many of the 

 cultivated varieties originated. Sir Joseph 

 Hooker describes it as an evergreen shrub with 

 leaves 2 to 10 inches long, very variable, from 

 oblong to narrowly linear, often wavy, and 

 variegated green and yellow, showing an infinite 

 variety of form and colouring. The flowers, 

 which are insignificant, are borne on axillary 

 spikes or racemes, the males and females on 

 separate spikes. They are easily crossed, and 

 numerous seedlings have been raised artificially 

 Li this country, especially within the last fifteen 

 years. One of the principal raisers of new 

 varieties was the late C. F. Bause. Messrs. R. 

 P. Ker & Sons of Liverpool have also raised 

 many new seedlings. 



Codiseums have now become indispensable as 

 decorative plants, playing a most important 

 part both in the plant-stove and in artistic 



groups. No one will regret the disappearance 

 to a great extent of the huge specimens which 

 at one time were to be seen in our stoves. These 

 did not aid in making the genus nearly so 

 popular as do the smaller, more elegant 

 specimens now to be met with. 



Culture. — CodiaBums are not difficult to culti- 

 vate. Cuttings may be struck at any season of 

 the year in a bottom heat of 80°. It is best to 

 strike a yearly stock late in the autumn. The 

 growths, if taken then, are not active or sappy, 

 hence far less check is experienced, and they 

 root readily in a close pot or frame. The best 

 cuttings to form single-stemmed plants are those 

 of upright growth rather than side shoots. If, 

 on the other hand, a larger specimen is in- 

 tended, then take a stout cutting with four, 

 five, or more shoots upon it. This will strike 

 just as freely as a single shoot in a close pit. 

 It is always better to choose well -coloured 

 shoots with healthy foliage to the base of the 

 cutting. When rooted, they should be potted 

 in an open loamy soil and pushed on in heat. 

 Abundance of light is essential to develop the 

 colour in the foliage, and also induces a short- 

 jointed, sturdy growth. Where a sufficient 

 number of these and other light-loving plants 

 are grown it is a good plan to so arrange them 

 as to avoid the use of sun-blinds, save in a mini- 



Fig. 531.— Codiseum (narrow-leaved 1 



mum degree. Plants kept somewhat confined 

 at the root are better able to support exposure 

 to a lower temperature or a dry atmosphere, 



