48 



PLO^EES A^B THE ELOWER GAEDE>'. 



and requiring summer heat of 65^ to 75"^, and winter 

 warmth of 55° to 60°. The leaves are handsome, being 

 about six inches long, and an inch and a half wide in the 

 centre, and thicklj variegated, striped and mottled with 

 yellow on a green ground. The flowers are white and 

 green. Croton inctum is an evergreen of similar habit. 

 The leaves are rather wider, and curiously spotted with 

 shades of red and yellow. 



Croton variegatum an giisti folium has long narrow 

 leaves, beautifully streaked with yellow on dark green, 

 gracefully drooping downwards. Its flowers are not 

 conspicuous. 



Croton tiglium produces the well-known croton oil. 



The soil they like is loam and peat, with silver sand : 

 stimulants spoil the variegation. Increase the plants of 

 angustifolium by cuttings taken about the end of July, 

 just as the summer shoots begin to harden. Take them 

 ofl*, where the new and the last year's wood join, smoothly 

 with a sharp knife : trim off the lower leaves, and 

 the ends of those which are left. Plant the cuttings in 

 a pot of compost, with an inch in depth of silver sand 

 above : water them to set the sand close about them, and 

 cover them with a bell glass, taking care that no leaves 

 touch it. Plunge the pot in heat, shelter it from the 

 sun, and water when necessary. Pot the cuttings when 

 they are well rooted, but return them to their old posi- 

 tion until they grow again. After that harden them to 

 bear full light. Cuttings of the other kinds should be 

 taken in March or April, and the leaves left entire. Let 

 the plants have pots which are no larger than they 

 quire ; and as their habit is rather straggling, stop the 

 leading shoots annually, and train out the side branches. 



The JBavettct Borhonica is a pretty growing plant, with 

 leaves about nine inches long, beautifully spotted with 

 white and pale green on dark green, with a bright red 

 vein down the centre. It is of vigorous habit, and re- 

 requires stopping to make it grow bushy. It grows in 

 fibry loam and sandy peat, without stimulating manures, 

 and requires re-potting when the old pot is filled with 

 roots. It grows from cuttings taken in spring, and 



