January 12, less.] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 23 
12th 
Tn 
Koyal Society at 4.30 P.M. 
13th 
F 
Quekett Club at 8 P.M. 
14th 
S 
15th 
SUN 
2nd Sunday after Epiphany. 
16th 
M 
Koyal Geographical Society at 8.30 P.M. 
17th 
TU 
18th 
W 
Society of Arts at 8 P.M. 
PLANTS FOR ROOMS. 
^jibyVERY year this subject is becoming of more 
importance to cultivators. In nearly all gar¬ 
dens propagating and growing suitable plants 
for room decoration receive much attention. 
Varied circumstances often render this a work 
of difficulty where a large number of plants 
are required during several months and house room 
is limited. To produce in quantity dwarf, sturdy, 
well-coloured examples low plant houses are essential. 
With houses properly constructed and heat at com¬ 
mand it is easy to raise and maintain a good stock of suitable 
fine-foliage plants for rooms. These are much more easily 
produced than a large supply of flowering plants for the same 
purpose. The lasting properties of a plant in the dwelling- 
house are often not of the first importance. I do not wish to 
infer it is not the case in some instances. The first and most 
important consideration is whether the plants employed give 
satisfaction to the owners. Taste varies so much, that what 
one appreciates another will not. This frequently necessitates 
the employment of plants that do not last long, and at first it 
was a source of trouble to me to grow good plants to be ren¬ 
dered unsightly in a few days. Experience has, however, taught 
me to think differently. When foliage plants are almost 
totally excluded and flowering plants only may be used, and 
the majority of which must have fragrant flowers, the work of 
maintaining a supply is often difficult; still the difficulty can be 
overcome. 
There are many good suitable fine-foliage plants besides 
these given in the list on page 512 last volume, and some of 
them are even preferable. Amongst Dracsenas D. Frederici is 
one of the finest for indoor decoration. It only attains a 
medium size, and colours better than either D. Cooperi, D. 
terminalis, or any other variety I know, in a small state. D. 
terminalis alba is the best of the variegated forms, being in 
habit much like the old D. terminalis, and it forms a good 
companion to that useful variety. It colours better and earlier, 
and is altogether more useful than D. Reginm. D. Renardim 
is oE sturdy habit, and its foliage is inclined to droop. A 
stock of this variety can be raised quickly ; it is a good grower, 
and can be coloured well in 6-inch pots. D. Scottise, of slender 
habit,.is free in growth ; it colours well, and is suitable for 
decoration in small pots. When well grown this is a lovely 
Dracaena. The colour of the leaves is a pleasing green edged 
with crimson, while the young leaves are freely coloured with 
pink and creamy white. D. hybrida is a free and beautiful 
variety, colouring well when comparatively small; its habit is 
compact. D. metallica is a valuable dark-leaved kind with 
broad drooping foliage, and looks more ornamental than the 
useful old D. ferrea. 
D. superba will, no doubt, when it becomes cheaper and 
better known, be highly appreciated for table decoration. It 
is the most slender and graceful variety I know. The leaves 
are from 1 foot to 18 inches long, and about 1 inch wide. The 
colour is a dark bronze green, margined and striped with 
bright crimson. This variety colours well in a very small state ; 
in fact, I have seen handsomely coloured plants in 4-inch pots. 
Amongst slender green kinds none surpasses the old D. con- 
gesta for general purposes. It endures well in rooms, and grows 
sturdily with any ordinary cool-house treatment. A little heat 
should be given when propagating and until the young plants 
have fairly started. 
Crotons are useful plants, and the majority of them remain 
attractive for a long time in rooms ; in fact, I think they will 
stand more rough treatment than Dracienas. The leaves of 
the latter, when highly coloured, are soon injured ; but this is 
not the case with Crotons, for the better they are coloured the 
more beautiful they appear both by day and gaslight, and they 
last equally well. C. Queen Victoria is one of the most use¬ 
ful for room decoration. C. Hawkeri should be included in 
every list, however limited, as it is by gaslight perhaps the 
most conspicuous of all Crotons. The green and light yellow 
variegation of its leaves contrast so well, and the transparency 
of its variegation is seen to the greatest advantage under arti¬ 
ficial light. It is a good grower, of a free branching habit, 
and will no doubt become our most popular Croton for decora¬ 
tion at night. C. Hanburyanus is another striking variety 
with noble foliage ; its colouring appears best towards autumn. 
C. Evansianus is useful, but does not colour so well in a small 
state as many others. C. Weismanni and C. majesticus are too 
well known to need recommending. C. interruptus aureus, a 
new fine-leaved variety certificated in 1878, assumes a fine 
pyramidal habit without pinching ; it is light and elegant, 
colouring well when very small. I think when well known 
this variety will surpass C. angustifolius for table decoration. 
A long list of suitable foliage plants might be added from 
amongst Marantas, Abutilons, DiefEenbachias, and others that 
are readily propagated, and they prove useful for change and 
variety. 
Flowering plants are the chief features here, and Eucharis 
amazomca is a valuable plant when grown in 5 or 6-inch pots, 
according to the size of the vases to be filled. They can be 
flowered in the first-named size, two good bulbs only being 
placed in a pot. In rooms the flowers continue fresh as long 
as they do in the house in which they are grown without any 
injury to the plants. With a good stock flowers can be had 
nearly all the year round. Small bushy plants of Gardenias 
are appreciated ; the flowers do not last long, but that is of 
but little moment here. Heliotropes are favourites, and are 
grown in 5 and 6-inch pots, each plant carrying from six to 
twelve trusses of bloom. Daphne indica rubra, Mignonette as 
standards—in the same size pots as the Heliotrope—Hyacinths, 
Narcissus, Lily of the Valley, Spiraeas, forced Pinks, and Cycla¬ 
mens, are all largely employed. Greenhouse Rhododendrons 
are much admired. Of these Princess Alice is the favourite, 
with its large white fragrant flowers, and the growth being 
compact, suitable plants can be had in 6-inch pots. Small 
plants of the Ghent, the mollis type, and Indian Azaleas, also 
Lilac Charles X., are all employed here. Roses are useful 
No. 81.—Yol. IY., Third Series. 
No. 1737 .—Yol. LXVII., Old Series. 
