FOLIAGE PLANTS OF THE STOVE. 313 



tinged with purple. It is very showy when associated with 

 other plants, and quickly attains an effective si/e. 

 Begonia. While many of the Begonias need only the 

 protection of a greenhouse, there are several that must be 

 regarded as stove plants, though most of them may be 

 kepi in the greenhouse during the summer. To thiselass 

 belong R Rex and its numerous varieties, which have 

 large oblique leaves variegated in numerous ways. 

 Generally the ground colour is of some shade of green, 

 and this is marked more or less with silvery white, 

 arranged in one large zone, or in spots, freckles, or 

 blotches. Besides the varieties of B. Rex, other hand- 

 some-foliaged kinds are : Arthur Malet, Acerifolia, 

 Decora, Eudoxa, Margaritacea, Naomi Malet, and 

 Ricinefolia maculata. The forms of li. Rex, which are 

 universal favourites, may be readily propagated by the 

 leaves, all that is necessary being to take a mature leaf 

 and lay it on a pan of sandy soil or a bed of cocoa-nut 

 refuse. It may be secured in position with a peg or two, 

 and if the principal veins are just cut through here and 

 there with a sharp knife, young plants will be produced 

 from the wounded portions, and when large enough they 

 may be potted singly. Ordinary potting compost will 

 suit them well. The propagation must be carried out in 

 a stove temperature, and if in a close case so much the 

 better. 



Bertolcnia. — Dwarf-growing plants of difficult culture, 

 that need to be covered w ith a bell-glass to keep them 

 in health. They should be potted in a mixture of 

 equal parts of peat, leaf mould, Sphagnum Moss, 

 and sand, and good drainage must be given. The 

 exceeding beauty of their foliage forms the most prominent 

 feature of the Bertolonias. B. Van Houttei, with olive 

 green leaves spotted with rose ; B. superbissima, dark 

 green leaves with large bright pink spots; B. alba 

 punctatissima, with a profusion of wdiite dots; and 

 B. punctatissima rosea, are charming. 



Caladilim. — An extensive class of beautiful foliage plants, 

 with leaves a good deal the shape of an arrow-head, 

 and coloured in various ways. Descriptions of a few 

 are given just to show the great variety that exists among 

 them : Assungay, large transparent leaves of a deep rose 

 pink, edged green ; Botafogo, red centre, yellowish 

 margin ; Cardinale, bright red, with crimson veins ; 

 Comte de Germiny, red. with crimson veins, mottled 

 white, dwarf; F. W. Moore, bright crimson; Hebe, 

 white ground, with pink veins and spots ; Ibis rose, 

 bright rose ; Martha Laforge, a mixture of pink and 

 green ; Monsieur Leon Say, bronzy red, deep rose spots ; 

 Princess Beatrice, yellow centre, green edge; Silver 

 Cloud, silvery white, pink veins ; Tennyson, bright green, 

 mottled white. The recognised garden varieties number 

 some hundreds, and there is one of the original species 

 which must be included in any selection, however choice. 

 This is the little C. argyrites ; its bright green leaves 

 are heavily marked w ith pure silvery w hite. Caladiums 

 all form a tuber, and pass the winter in an entirely dormant 

 state, during which time they must be kept dry without 

 being absolutely parched up. Then about February they 

 may be shaken quite clear of the old soil, and repotted 

 in a mixture of loam, leaf mould, and sand, at such a 

 depth that the upper part of the tuber is from Jin. to 

 1 in. below the surface of the soil. Placed in the stove, and 

 kept slightly moist, the young leaves will soon make their 

 appearance, when more water may be given, and the 

 plants treated as the general run of the occupants of the 

 stove. In the autumn, as they go to rest, water must 

 be gradually discontinued. Propagation is effected by 

 offsets, which are produced around the edge of the tuber. 



Croton, botanically known as Codkeum. The members of 

 this section of stove shrubs are remarkable for their hand- 

 some leaves, most of which are brightly coloured, while 

 the singular form of some attracts notice. Apart from 

 the conspicuous feature they form in the stove, many of 

 them are very popular as table plants. They are not 

 difficult to propagate and cultivate, providing good cut- 

 tings and plenty of heat and moisture are available. The 

 cuttings should be taken about April or May, a length of 



4m. to bin. being a very suitable one; and a few of the 

 bottom leaves having been removed, they should be 

 inserted singly into small pots in a mixture of loam, peat, 

 and sand. In a propagating case in the stove they will 

 soon root, when more air must be given them : anil by 

 the time they arc inured to the ordinary atmosphere ol 

 the structure, they may be shifted into larger pots. Two- 

 thirds fibrous loam to one-third leal mould, and a liberal 

 sprinkling of sand, will suit established plants ol Crotons. 

 To develop the bright colouring to tin- fullest possible 

 extent, as much light as possible, and a reasonable 

 amount of direct sunshine, must be allowed them. The 

 list ol varieties is a very long one, a lew ol the best being 

 here given : Aigburth Gem, Aigburthiensis, Angustifolius, 

 Baron Frank Selliere, Baionnc lames de Rothschild, 

 Chelsoni, Countess, Disraeli, Flamingo, Golden Ring, 

 Magnificent, Newmani, Prince ol W ales, Queen \ ii 

 toria, Reidi, Ruberrimus, Thomsoni, Van CErstedi, ami 

 Warren i. 



Cyanophyllum magriificum. A bold-growing plant, 



seen to the best advantage when confined to a single 

 stem, under which conditions the broadly oval-shaped 

 leaves, which taper to a point, will attain a length of 2ft. 

 or more, and a width of nearly 1 ft. The leaves are on 

 the upper surface of a rich velvety green, with the midrib 

 and principal veins ivory white, while the under-side is ol 

 a reddish purple colour. It succeeds in a mixture of loam, 

 peat, leaf mould, and sand, in about equal proportions, 

 and must be well drained, as a liberal supply of water is 

 necessary. Can be increased either by cuttings of the 

 shoots, or single eves put in very sandy soil, in a close 

 propagating case with bottom heat, but even then it does 

 not strike readily. 



DiefFenbachia {Dumb Cane). — Erect-growing Aroids, 

 with spreading ovate leaves in most cases bright 

 green, marked in various ways with white or creamy 

 yellow. They are plants of noble port, and not difficult 

 to cultivate, but caution must be observed in cutting 

 them, as the juice is of an acrid, poisonous nature. 



DraCKina. — Upright-growing and, with one exception, 

 unbranched plants, clothed with large, handsome foliage, 

 which in many varieties is very brightly coloured. While 

 the leaves of many are of an olive green tint, the variega- 

 tion is in most of them confined to various shades of red. 

 They are propagated by cutting up the stem into lengths 

 of about 2in., and laying them in a bed of cocoa-nut 

 refuse with a gentle bottom heat, when young plants will 

 soon be pushed up from the numerous joints. Loam and 

 peat, with a little charcoal and sand, will suit these Dra- 

 caenas. Good varieties are : Anerleyensis, Baptisti, Bansei, 

 Cooperi, Ernesti, Excellent, Jamesi, Lord Wolseley, 

 Mrs. Freake, Princess Charles of Denmark, Prince 

 Manouk Bey, Terminalis, and The Sirdar. Besides these 

 varieties, there are a few totally distinct therefrom, viz. : 

 Doucette, with a great profusion of narrow leaves, 

 arranged rosette fashion, green, edged white; Godseffiana, 

 a branching bush, ovate leaves spotted cream ; Goldieana, 

 light green, marbled, and banded with dark green and 

 silvery grey ; Lindeni, massive drooping leaves, green 

 banded gold ; and Sanderiana, which has small leaves 

 heavily margined with white. 



FittOJlia. —Trailing plants, with broadly ovate leaves from 

 3m. to 4-in. long. In F. argyroneura the leaves are bright 

 green, every vein thereon being traced with a network of 

 silver. F. Pearcei is in the same way, with carmine veins. 

 The Fittonias are charming subjects for draping the front 

 of stages, for rockwoik, or for similar purposes. 



Heliconia. — Bold-growing, Canna-like plants, two forms 

 of which are remarkable for the beautiful colouring of 

 their leaves. They are H. aureo striata, in which all the 

 principal veins are marked out with gold, and 11. illus- 

 tris, variegated in a similar manner, but with bright rosy 

 red. Ordinary potting compost of a rather light nature, 

 such as equal parts of loam and leaf mould, with some 

 smd, is very suitable. 



Leea amabiliS.- -A loose-growing plant with pinnate 

 leaves, consisting of two or three pairs of leaflets, which 

 arc of a deep bronzy green tint, with a broad white stripe 



