230 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENINa. 



Crossandra.— A small family of dwarf-growing 

 plants belonging to the Acanthads ; the name comes 

 from Jcrossos, a fringe," in allusion to their fringed 

 anthers. They enjoy the strong moist heat of the 

 stove. 



C. guineensis. — This species is very dwarf, and 

 more remarkable for its ornamental leaves than for 

 its flowers. Stem and petioles bright red, leaves 

 three to six inches long and one and a half broad, 

 deep green above, beautifully netted with golden 

 lines, reverse side pale red. Flowers lilac, on termi- 

 nal spikes, with bright red bracts. Winter months. 

 Island of Fernando Po, at 2,000 feet elevation. 



C. infandibuUformis.—Oi robust and erect habit, 

 this species is a charming object during the dull 

 winter months. The glume-like spikes are freely 

 produced, and bear numerous large orange-scarlet 

 flowers. Winter months. East Indies. 



C. unclulcufolia. — An old inhabitant of our plant- 

 houses, and still very beautiful when well done. 

 Leaves oblong-acuminate, much waved on the edges, 

 and deep green. Flowers rich vermilion. Winter 

 months. East Indies. 



Croton. — A large genus belonging to the Spurge- 

 wort family [Eaphorhiacece) ; from one species, viz., 

 C. Tiglium, a native of India and the Indian Archi- 

 pelago, the powerful medicine called " Croton oil 

 is obtained by crushing the seed. 



The plants here introduced do not belong to the 

 genus, but should be referred to Codiceum; they are, 

 however, so well known throughout the horticultural 

 world as Crotons, that for the sake of convenience 

 that name may be retained for them ; indeed, they 

 are far more widely known by it among gardeners. 



They are bold-growing, handsome-leaved shrubs, 

 with somewhat the appearance and habit of Laurels 

 or Aucubas, and the species and varieties have become 

 so numerous of late 5'ears, both by the introduction 

 of fresh forms from their native habitats and by 

 cross-breeding at home, that their numbers are 

 legion. 



The first English-bred Croton was obtained by the 

 writer of these lines from a cross between C. pidum 

 and C. Wiesmannii, and is now known as C. Queen 

 Victoria ; and it is very remarkable that, though so 

 many seedlings have since been raised, and so many 

 forms have been introduced, none have resembled 

 this plant, which is still one of the finest varieties 

 in cultivation. It was raised in the nursery of 

 Mr. B. S. Williams, of Upper HoUoway, an estab- 

 lishment which has since introduced several others 

 of the richest gems of this family. The Messrs. 

 Veitch and Sons, and Mr. Bull, both of Chelsea, 

 have also added quantities of fine Crotons to our 

 plant-stoves. 



In the plant-stove Crotons are indispensable, the 

 brilliancy and the diversity of the markings of their 

 richly- coloured leaves rendering them quite as showy 

 as flowers. The smaller-leaved kinds are extremely 

 useful for dinner-table decoration, and also for 

 placing in vases, &c,, for the embellishment of the 

 boudoir or drawing-room ; in the latter case, how- 

 ever, the rooms require to be kept warm and free 

 from gas, or the leaves wiU speedily fall. For 

 public exhibition purposes these plants are simply 

 invaluable. 



Crotons thrive well in a compost consisting of 

 three parts rich loam, one part peat, one part leaf- 

 mould, and a fair proportion of sharp sand ; the pots 

 should be thoroughly drained, as they enjoy an 

 abundant supply of water ; neither must the foliage 

 be neglected, frequent sprinklings from the s\Tinge 

 being absolutely necessary to keep away red spider 

 and thrip ; they also enjoy strong heat and a moist 

 atmosphere, with full exposure to sun and light. 



The varieties of Crotons are now so numerous 

 that it is extremely difiicult to make a selection 

 without omitting some desirable kinds ; but those 

 here enumerated are all of the highest merit, and will 

 not fail to give satisfaction to all who try them : — 



C. Audreanum — a bold- 

 growing plant, bearing 

 ]arge leaves a foot long 

 and nearly four inches 

 broad; dark olive-green, 

 midrib and primary veins 

 rich g ol d e n-y e 1 1 o w, 

 changing with age to deep 

 crimson. 



C. aneitumensis— averyfree 

 branching form. Leaves 

 light olive-green : mark- 

 ings rich deep orange- 

 yellow, 



C. angustlfolium — one of 

 the oldest and best for 

 dinner - table decoration 

 in places where other 

 colours besides green can 

 be introduced ; leaves 

 long, nai-row, pendulous, 

 some straight or twisted 

 in a spiral form, and 

 wholly rich golden-yellow, 



C, Bismarckii — a robust 

 form, with large fiddle- 

 shaped leaves, deep green, 

 and banded and blotched 

 with deep yellow, 



C. Chelsonii — green narrow 

 spiral leaves, breaking in- 

 to orange, shaded with 

 salmon and crimson, 



C. Dayspring— leaves nearly 

 eighteen inches long, 

 under side vinous-red ; 

 surface deep olive-green, 

 irregularly but profusely 

 blotched with orange and 

 crimson, 



C. Disraeli— trifid or three- 

 Jobed leaves, the centre 

 lobe much the longest ; 

 brieht green, blotched 

 and veined with yellow, 

 changing with age to 

 orange and scarlet. 



C, Dodgsonse — narrow 

 leaves upwards of a foot 

 in length, half an inch in 

 breadth, frequently spiral; 

 bright green, midrib and 

 margins rich golden -j'el- 

 low. 



C. Earl of Derby— trifid or 

 fish - tailed Croton, of 

 remarkable beauty. Stems 

 and leaves rich golden- 

 yellow, the margins of the 

 lobes banded with vivid 

 green, 



C. Eclipse — leaves ovate- 

 lanceolate, nearly a foot 

 long, and two inches 

 broad ; deep olive-green, 

 blotched with rosy-crim- 

 son, midrib rich yellow 

 flaked with rose, veins 

 rosy-red. 



C. elegantissimus —narrow 

 pendulous leaves of a rich 

 bright golden-yellow,mar- 

 gined with bright green. 



C. Evansianus — leaves tr:- 

 lobate, in a young state 

 bright green, veined ynfh 

 golden-yellow; with age 

 deep olive - green, bur- 

 nished with crimson, and 

 veined with rich deep 

 orange. 



C . Exceisior- -a close-habited 

 plant, with leaves up- 

 wards of a foot long, and 

 scarcely two inches broad; 

 of a dark green, profusely 

 mottled with rich golden- 

 yellow, changing with age 

 to deep crimson. 



C. Goldei— a very fine trifid 

 species. 



C. Hanburyanus — leaves 

 from twelve to eighteen 

 inches long, and ui)wards 



