208 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ Septembek, 
of creamy-yellow, brandling out transversely along tlie course of the veins ; and 
with age this portion changes to a lovely tint of rose or carmine-purple, the 
intensity of the colours increasing as the leaves become older. For breadth of 
surface, and clear and distinct markings, this plant is, we think, unequalled 
amongst its congeners. 
Croton or Codiceum undulatum (fig. 2) is a very different plant from the fore¬ 
going, but equally beautiful. The leaves are narrower, and are very much undu¬ 
lated, which gives great variety to, the rich tints they put on. The variegation 
in this case consists of numerous blotches and markings, which at first are 
yellow, gradually changing to pink and crimson, and in the mature leaves are of 
the brightest crimson, on a dark-green ground, the base of the petioles being of a 
very light green. It is of very free growth, and is said to have a magnificent 
effect by artificial light. There can, indeed, be no doubt that all these finely- 
coloured Crotons, in the form of young, single-stemmed plants of suitable height, 
will be most eligible subjects for the decoration of the dinner-table.—M. 
SWEET-SCENTED FLOWERS. 
No. III.— Daphne indioa. 
I ERE we have one of those beautiful flowers that are so generally killed by 
kindness. Every person wishes to have it, not less for the appearance of 
the plant when well grown, than for the delicious aroma which the flowers 
exhale. Plant-growers differ as to its cultivation, some considering grafted 
plants indispensable, while others would rather have the plant upon its own 
roots. Much, however, of the success which should attend the cultivation of a 
grafted plant will depend upon the perfect health and vigour of the stock upon 
which it is worked. Sometimes the common wood spurge {Daphne Laureola) is 
used, but I have found Daphne pontica to form the best stock. These should be 
thoroughly established in 3 or 4-in. pots, and the grafting may be performed 
either in the autumn, when the wood of the season is sufficiently firm and ripened, 
or in the early spring, after the plant has done blooming. In the former case, 
the grafted plants, after having the graft neatly and firmly fixed, and the wound 
made air-tight with a coat of cold grafting-wax, should be placed in a cold frame, 
or pit, under the protection of a close-fitting bell-glass or hand-light, keeping the 
roots sufficiently moist, but not syringing the plants more than once a week, when 
the glass should be left off until the foliage has got rid of the superfluous moisture. 
In spring grafting, it is advisable that the stocks should be placed in a gentle 
heat to excite them into growth before they are grafted, and if at the same time 
the plant from which the grafts are to be taken can be placed in a similar tem¬ 
perature, it will be well, as then the stock and scion will be in the same state of 
growth, and the chances of success will be much increased. In the hands of an 
expert workman, the grafts need not exceed an inch in length, half to be attached 
to the stock, and the other half, which may have two or three leaves and buds, 
