THE CULTIVATION OF CODI^UMS (CROTONS) AND DRAC^NAS. 375 
should at that time of the year be given, but always somewhat 
sparingly. Many varieties may be grown without any shading 
whatever throughout the whole season ; others again, to grow 
them well, must be shaded, or the top leaves will become small and 
too highly coloured, and will soon drop off. Syringing is one of 
the chief points in their culture, and to it great attention must 
be paid. In the winter- time syringing depends entirely on the 
state of the weather and the temperature of the house ; and on 
cold sunless days it is sufficient to simply keep the house in a 
moist state. But whenever syringing do it well, it being far 
better to thoroughly wet the foliage all over than only to half do 
it. Good syringing means keeping insects down. Eed-spider is 
the worst enemy of the Croton, and if allowed to multiply too 
freely it is a most difficult thing to get rid of, and is sure to spoil 
the top of the plant. 
During the summer, on very hot sunny days, give air freely, 
but so as not to cause a draught, which is the sure forerunner of 
insects, particularly at that time of the year. 
Attention must also be paid to the potting material that is 
used. The Croton requires a rich, moderately heavy soil : two 
parts of good yellow loam, pulled to pieces with the hand and 
the finer particles sifted out of it, and one part of good peat or 
leaf-soil, with a liberal addition of silver sand, makes a good 
compost. It must be of a porous character, and the potting 
must be done firmly. 
As a rule, Crotons can be grown in comparatively small pots, 
provided that care is taken in watering and the drainage is 
ample. During hot, drying weather, the plants should be looked 
over several times a day, particularly those which are pot-bound ; 
at any other time of the year once a day is sufficient, but at no 
time of the year should they suffer from want of water, parti- 
cularly those that are well rooted. Newly potted plants should 
be treated with care, and not be watered too heavily until they 
begin to root through to the sides of the pots. Where quanti- 
ties are grown they should have a house to themselves ; but if a 
few are kept among other stove-plants, they should be put 
together at the warmest part of the house. Large plants may 
be grown among other miscellaneous subjects, if elevated on 
pots so that they stand freely above the other plants. 
The propagation of Crotons is chiefly done by cuttings, or if 
