40 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Jftnuaiy 15,18tl 
propagation is to split up an old plant into as many pieces as required, 
place the divisions singly in 4-inch pots, and transfer them to a 
temperature G0° to Go°, where they will soon become established, 
when they may be used for decoration. They may be placed into 
larger pots according to requirements. A suitible mixture is two 
parts fibry loam, one part leaf soil and sand. When they are well 
established they will require abundance of water at the roots, 
especially in the summer, when they may also be syringed freely. 
They will thrive admirably in a temperature ranging from 55° 
to G0°. 
Aralias, Crotons, and Dracienas are perhaps three of the most 
useful and beautiful of our ornamental foliage plants, their varied 
markings and pleasing colours always ensuring for them a high 
position in general favour. For the dining - room they are 
indispensable ; being of a light graceful habit, they do not block the 
view across the table, a consideration which should not be over¬ 
looked by those who have to arrange plants in the house. 
Cuttings may be taken from the tops of old plants that have 
grown too bad for use. They should be taken with a soft stem if 
possible,_as they wdll root quickly and without losing any of their 
leaves ; if cut with a hard stem they take much longer to root, and 
often lose their lower leaves. They may be inserted singly in 
3-inch pots, using light sandy loam with a few decayed leaves. The 
po^ts may be plunged in a stove pit, with a bottom heat of 75° to 
80°, and left till well rooted, when they may be removed to a shelf 
in the stove. Old plants that have been topped may be used as 
stock plants, and should be plunged in a brisk bottom heat, and the 
stems syringed daily, they will then throw out shoots, which as 
they become large enough may be taken off and inserted as cuttings. 
When the young plants have filled the small pots with roots they 
should be transferred into 5-inch pots, the most serviceable size 
for table work. A good compost is two parts fibry loam, one part 
leaf soil and dried cow manure, and enough charcoal and silver 
sand to ensure porosity. 
The after culture consists chiefly in keeping the plants perfectly 
clean and free from insect pests, and transferring them into larger 
pots if desirable. A high temperature with plenty of atmospheric 
moisture, abundance of light, and water at the roots are essential to 
bring out their markings to perfection. A very dry atmosphere 
must be studiously avoided, as being conducive to red spider and 
thrips, which insects soon take all the vitality out of the leaves, 
causing thern to assume a sickly appearance which mars their 
beauty considerably. Aralias and Crotons may be syringed 
vigorously all the year, especially directing the water on the under 
surface of the leaves, which will dislodge any of the pests named, 
and maintain a clean, fresh looking appearance. In winter the 
syringing should be done in the early part of the day to allow the 
foliage to become dry again before night. 
Dracamas may be syringed freely in hot weather when air can 
be admitted, but should not be done in winter on account of the 
water lodging in the axils of the leaves, which causes them to 
“damp.” AVeuse these plants entirely for the dining and drawing 
room tables, and to ensure a perfectly symmetrical growth we give 
them a position on a narrow shelf suspended 3 feet from the roof 
in the stove. This gives them an equal amount of light on all sides, 
as they are placed about 1 foot apart, it also gives the advantage 
of being able to reach the under side of the leaves when syringing. 
No fixed rule can be laid down as to the height of the plants, but 
we usually have them from 9 to 18 inches, which we find quite tall 
enough for table work. 
The bold variegation and long graceful foliage of Pandanus 
Yeitchi renders it one of the best for decorative purposes ; it will 
stand a long time in rooms lighted by gas, and is very easy to keep 
clean, being almost proof against insect pests. No collection is 
complete without it. Propagation is effected by rooting suckers 
which are generally plentiful at the base of old plants. These 
should be taken off close to the s)il and inserted singly in small 
pots, or if good sized suckers can be obtained they may be placed in 
5-inch pots, using a compost of two parts loam with a small quantity 
of decayed leaves and silver sand. They root readily in a stove pit, 
and if grown in a high moist temperature soon make useful plants. 
When the pots are full of roots plenty of water should be given, 
and they should be syringed freely during the summer months. 
Weak liquid manure will be found beneficial in maintaining a good 
colour. 
Coleuses are extremely useful for indoor work, but as they will 
not stand very long in hot rooms Avithout injury they Avill require 
changing frequently. A stock of young plants may be easily kept 
up to supply any losses that may occur, as cuttings strike freely at 
any time of year if placed in a brisk heat. They may be inserted 
either singly or several in a pot, taking care that the base of the 
cutting^ reaches the bottom of the hole made for it, for if they 
“hang ’ in the soil they will most likely damp off. When Avell 
rooted they may be potted singly or shifted into larger pots, as the 
case may be. They thrive in a mixture of fibry loam, leaf soil;,, 
and charcoal and silver sand. As they grow freely they require- 
abundance of water at the roots ; an occasional dose of weak liquid 
cow manure will help them considerably. The leading shoots 
should be pinched about twice to cause them to form good bushes, 
Avhich they will do in moderately small pots. Plenty of light and 
a stove temperature will be essential to obtain good plants in 
winter, but they Avill do well in a greenhouse during the summer 
months. The flower spikes should be removed as they appear. _ 
Acalypha macrophylla with good culture is excellent for mixed 
groups, its handsome brown foliage when coloured being very 
effective. It is propagated by cuttings, which, if taken with a soft 
stem, root freely in a stove pit. A mixture of equal parts of loam 
and peat, with a sprinkling of sand, will suit them well. Several 
may be inserted in a 5-inch pot, and when well rooted they may be 
transferred singly into 4-inch pots, and as they increase in size may 
be moved into larger pots as desired. The after culture consists 
mainly of a plentiful supply of water (rain water if possible),, 
syringing freely in hot weather, and sponging the leaves frequently 
Avith soapy water. 
Ficus elastica variegata makes a splendid plant for all decora¬ 
tive purposes. Propagate by cuttings taken from the tops of 
plants that have grown too tall, insert singly in 5-inch pots, using 
a compost of fibry loam and charcoal, and place in a brisk heat.. 
They are best restricted to one straight shoot, and may be kept in 
moderately small pots. Syringe freely in fine weather, and sponge 
occasionally to keep the leaves clean and bright. The plants will 
do Avell in an intermediate temperature, but the colours will be 
more distinct if grown in a stove. 
Panicum variegatum and Tradescantia zebrina are graceful 
trailing plants, specially adapted for mixing in groups and for 
standing in small vases in the drawing room. They are easily in¬ 
creased by cuttings, which may be laid on the surface of the soil,, 
and a few crocks placed on them to keep them down. They very 
soon cover the pot if grown in a stove temperature. A shady 
position suits them better than too much exposure and light,. 
Plenty of water at the roots will be essential at all times. 
Ananassa sativa variegata is extremely serviceable for table 
decoration, and it will stand gas better than most stove plants. 
It is best increased by suckers, which may be obtained from the 
base of old plants. These may be inserted singly in 5-inch pots,, 
and plunged in a bottom heat of 75°. When well rooted they may 
have a position on a stove shelf where they can obtain abundance 
of light. They thrive in a compost of light fibry loam and a pro¬ 
portion of charcoal and silver sand, and require watering care¬ 
fully during the winter months, but copious supplies may be given 
with frequent syringings in summer. 
Caladiums are ornamental plants for table work during the 
summer months, but owing to their delicate foliage must not be 
left in hot rooms more than one day, nor exposed to draughts. 
We propagate them by dividing large tubers into about four parts,, 
inserting each part separately in small pots, and place them in a 
temperature of G5°. This should be done about March, and in a 
month or six weeks they should be potted on into larger pots and 
be brought into a somewhat higher temperature. A good mixture 
consists of equal parts of loam and peat and a small quantity of 
charcoal and silver sand. Perfect drainage must be ensured, as- 
they require abundance of water when in an active condition 
W'eak liquid manure may also be supplied frequently. They 
should be shaded for a few hours when the sun is very strong, but 
should have all the light possible to perfect the colour of the 
leaves. A moist atmosphere is essential from the time they com¬ 
mence growing until the foliage fades, then they may be removed 
to a lower temperature and the supply of water gradually reduced. 
After the foliage is quite withered they may be placed under the 
stage in a warm greenhouse, kept moderately dry, and rested until 
the time comes round for starting them into growth. 
Ophiopogon variegatus is a very desirable little plant for 
arranging in groups, its green and yellow variegated foliage having 
a pretty effect. It is increased by dividing old plants and inserting 
each di\*ision in small pots, placing them in a brisk heat of 75"» 
After roots are formed give them a position on the stove shelf, and 
remove into larger pots as they develop, using a mixture of equal 
parts of loam, peat, and leaf soil, with a sprinkling of sand. An 
ordinary stove temperature will suit them, and well established 
plants can remain in the same pots for a number of years with 
little attention beyond an occasional sponging and frequent watering 
with liquid manure to ensure a good colour, and keep the foliage 
clean and bright. 
A great detriment to plants used for house decoration is the 
injury inflicted on them by gas and cold draughts. Most of our 
beautiful variegated foliage plants require for their successful 
growth a high moist temperature, and to take them out of such a 
temperature and subject them to either of the above evils means in 
