212 
.U)IJUNAL  OF  ll()IlTr(JIILrUilF  AND  OOTTAOF  (AMIDFNFIL 
Maroli  ‘-’.'5,  ’i8!)9. 
(iKOWrN(J 
’(!IK)T(]8s. 
A MONCS’l’ orntuiifiiilul  Cmo-folidf'od  stove  plants  the  f'roton  hIiiihIs  in 
t)ie  first  rank  tor  thV!  rich  eblour  und ' ftriicefiilriess  of  its  !(mves.  Most,’ 
varieties  dilTer  so  trincli  in  liaiiit  us  to  nniko  th(>ni  well  lulujitjsi  toUie 
"rown  in  frreut  nmnhi'rs  topjethiT  without  lookiiiff  inonotiinons.  I<'(‘w 
plants  are  more  hountifnl  when  well  (rrown  than  a  colh*etion  of  Crotons 
.  when  the  mn  is  shiniiitr  upon  them.  'I'he  larpo  dark  led  foliafto  of  Huron 
■  ..laiiH's  de  K’oihshild,  the  rich  poldcn  hroii/.e  of  (^ni'cn  Victoria,  and  the 
lir;;e  gohh  n  hlotehed  leavrs  ot  ]\Torii,  blended  wiiti  the  pale  yellow  and 
».;;reen  foliage  of  variegates,  and  the  stilTness  of  these  taken  off  hy  the 
pjraeefni  droopintr  f'olnifj;e  of  such  varieties  us  intcrrnptus,  interrnptuK 
aureus,  Iinj,',ari8,  VVoisinanni,  Cyrus,  Chelsoni,  anreo-punctatus,  Princess 
of  Wales,  elef'antissimiis,  Warreiii,  and  many  others,  is  a  Hif;ht  to  be 
remembered  by  all  interested  in  the  cnltivution  of  (ine-loliap’ed  plants. 
'I’o  jierplefflate  (i  variety  of  any  jilant  it  must  be  propagated  by  ciittmfrs. 
btlds,  or  {grafts,  as  those  raiseil  t'rom  seed  rarely  come  true.  As  a  jiroof 
of  this  I  may  mention  that  1  have  at  present  si.'c  seedlirifj  ( !rotons,  Irom 
4  to  ,'■)  inches  hip;!!,  raiso'i  from  one  of  the  narrow-leaved  varieties,  and 
not  one  resembles  the  parent  plant,  and  no  two  of  them  are  alike.  They 
tlilTermnch  in  the  colour  and  shape  of  their  loaves,  and  also  in  the  habit 
of  iheir  jrrowth.  Some  have  narrow  leaves  of  dilTerent  shades  of  eolonr, 
while  others  have  broad  f;roen  leaves  with  no  sign  of  variegation  what¬ 
ever. 
PltOfAftATtON. 
(/Totons  ean  tie  ]>ropnpated  at  almost  any  season  hy  inserting  strong 
cuttings  of  half-ripene(l  wooil  in  sinall  pots  in  a  soil  or  coniposiiion  made 
dt  <'i|niil  ]mrts  of  loam,  leaf  mould,  and  silver  sand,  and  jiinnged  in  a 
gt'hlle  bottom  heat  until  they  are  rooted.  During  lliis  stage  ttie  cuttings 
shoiihl  he  dewed  over  the  foliage  with  a  line-ro'’e  watering  pot  every  day 
to  keep  the  leaves  fresh,  and  to  pievent  red  sjiider  attaeking  ihi-rii.  Wlien 
the  cnltings  are  siillieieiuly  rooted,  which  will  take  IVom  thri’O  to  six 
weeks,  according  to  the  soaseii,  they  are  shifted  into  pots  a  size  larger, 
using  the  following  eompost  :  three  jmrts  of  good  hhrous  ii.ain,  one  of  peat, 
one  of  leaf  mould,  and  ahout  a  tiiird  of  the  whole  of  sharp  river  sand, 
whicti  will  keep  the  compost  fresh  and  porous.  'I’he  jiluiiis  are  then 
jilaced  in  the  stove  cb'se  to  the  glass,  w  liere  they  will  reeeivo  as  mueh 
light  and  sunshine  us  jiossilik'.  As  the  jilaiits  increase  in  sizo  they  are 
shifteil  into  larger  pots,  always  using  the  saiiio  compost  as  that  just 
mentioned. 
(ircat  care  must  he  exercised  in  watering  the  plants.  'I’he  soil  shonhl 
never  ho  allowed  to  hccoine  too  dry  or  too  w<;t  and  Bodilen,  or  the  roots 
will  he  injured  and  decay,  and  the  plants  will  siilTcr  in  consciinence.  'I’he 
roots  of  the  (Toteii  are  soft  and  spongy,  and  are  therefore  Inihle  to  damj) 
off  if  the  soil  bccomcB  wet  and  sour  on  the  one  hand,  or  too  dry  on  the 
other.  ( I  reat  care  and  attention  should  therefore  he  paid  to  watering  at 
the  proper  time,  and  in  .siiiruicnt  (juantily  to  keep  the  plants  in  a  liealdiy 
growing  state. 
'I’llH  Usio  OK  MANUI!K. 
•  U  has  heeii  tinly  said  that  one  of  thi'  secrets  of  siicooss  in  the  enlliva- 
tion  of  any  plant  is  the  freiinent  and  jll(lielon.^  a]iplieati()n  of  manure. 
'I’liis  is  especially  so  with  regard  to  llu‘  Croton.  'I'Ik'  great  amount  of 
foliage  which  ii  large  and  healliiy  plant  has  to  nourish  soon  extnieis  aU 
the  fertility  from  the  soil  in  wliicli  it  is  poMed.  It  is  (inite  dilferent  wiili 
plants  growing  ill  the  open  air.  'I'lie  soil  in  w  hicli  l  hey  ai  o  grow  ing  is 
always  receiving,  more  or  less,  natural  mamires  from  the  rain,  lor  rain 
mill  snow  never  fall  to  th*'  earih  w  iihont  earrying  feriilisers  williihem. 
.\s  a  matter  of  course  |ihints  grown  under  glass  receive  none  of  these, 
conseiiiK'ntly  if  the}’  are  to  he  grown  successfully  inaiinres  must  he  applieil 
artificially,  and  in  greater  (]titmlities  to  largo  plants  tlnit  have  filled  their 
pots  with  roots  and  are  growing  vigorously,  than  to  those  whose  grow  tli 
is  at  a  teni|i(irary  standstill.  'I’he  feriilisers  I  tijiply  to  Crotons  are  lii|nel 
cow  inannioaiid  soot,  'riiese  are  tlioronglily  mixed  together  and  used 
when  WiUering. 
iNsiocr  Hnk.miiw. 
Crotons  tiro  snhjeet  to  the  attacks  of  several  insret  jiests,  hut  the 
worst  I  think  is  red  spider.  If  onre  this  has  possfvssio:!  of  uny  jilant  us 
liealtli  is  rmned  in  a  short  time,  and  I  fio  leaves  fall  one  hy'one,  coin-" 
jiletely  disfiguring  it  if  the  spider  is  nut  cheeked  at  once.  'I'he  ye]  ow 
varieties  I  find  are  more  snhjeet  to  its  attaL'ks  thtiii  any  of  the  otliers. 
'I'lio  lu■^^  plan  IS  to  give  the  plants  a  thorongli,  and  individiial,  syringing 
as  soon  as  the  pi'st  nppears  and  wadi  it  clean  oil'.  Hut  ]ire\ mtion  is 
better  than  ciik*.  and  1  think  if  the  syringe  were  used  jiidieiotisly  every  day 
red  spider  would  he  ke[)t  nndc»r. 
'fillips  are  also  great  enemies  to  tlie  Croton;  if  once  tliey  get  on  a 
plant  the  leaves  are  soiui  disfigured  and  mined,  no  matter  how  excellent 
the  treatment  may  have  heeii.  A  sharp  look  out  Nhoiild  he  kept  at  all 
till!  's  for  this  pest,  for,  unlike  red  spider,  its  elfeets  on  lh(>  plant  are  not 
seen  all  at  onci*,  and  it  is  oiil}'  hy  close  investigation  that  its  preseriee  is 
(iiseoven'd  in  its  l  arly  stage  of  development.  'I’o  get  rid  of  tlinps  I  know 
two  melliods — tlic  first  is  hy  fumigating  the  lioiise,  and  tlie  oilier  hv 
syringing  the  plants  with  a  decoeium  made  from  lubueco  iiuper  mixed 
in  water. 
Scale  is  another  pest  wliieh  sometinios  infests  Crotons,  but  it  is  easily 
killed  by  syringing  with  a  little  ]H'lroleiim  mixed  in  waiter  tii  d  kept  in 
periietnal  motion  while  heing  iippl  ed  to  the  plant.  Mealy  bug  ean  be 
destroyed  in  the  same  way. 
I'tVl’TINd  AND  'I’ltAIN'INtI  TIIIO  I'l.ANTS. 
I  have  said  iiolhing  about  draining,  pulling,  and  stopping  the  shoots 
to  make  well-furnished  busby  plants,  or  about  beat,  moisture,  and  the 
veiii  iliil  iou  of  tl.i*  lion.si’.  'I’lte  jiois  should  he  tlieroiigldv  eleiirn d  and 
well  drained  for  till  plants  tfiat  have  to  tie  grown  fur  any  length  of  lime 
in  th(‘m,  and  in  jiotimg  the  plants  are  jilaeed  a  little  lower  than  they  wen* 
in  tin  ir  previous  [lotB  to  cover  the  lop  of  the  hall.  'I'lie  sod  is  pressed 
firmly  down,  and  when  finished  stiflicient  space  is  lett  at  the  lop  of  the  pot 
lor  w  titt  ring.  'I'lie  plants  are  trained  w  itli  as  few  stakes  as  possible  to 
put  them  in  shape,  and  the  strong  shoots  stoiiiieil  shortly  belore  tluy 
liegiri  to  grow  in  the  spring,  to  make  them  braiieli  out  and  furnish  the 
plant  with  fine  leaves  from  top  to  hoitorii.  'I’he  ten  perutiire  of  the  honso 
should  he  kept  at  7u°,  and  ventilation  altorded  when  ilie  heat  rises  atiove 
that  degree  in  sunny  weather,  and  it  is  allowed  to  lise  to  80°  or  00°  with 
air  in  the  summer  time.  When  the  jiliinls  are  growing  they  re(|nire 
abunilanee  of 'vater.  'I'liey  are  syringed  twice  a  day,  and  tlie  bed  and 
path  (lamped  frecpicritly. —  1’, 
iJOYAL  (MIM)IONI^:i{S’  ORPHAN  FUND. 
Likk  Mr.  ,1.  H.  Stevenson  (|)i'ge  I  find  it  very  dinicult  to 
Iiersiiiide  gardeners  to  subserilie  to  ibis,  in  my  ejiinion,  deserving  ( Ihai  it  \'. 
It  bus  always  bec-ii  a  mysteny  to  in(«  why  they  will  not  do  so,  but  I 
am  eonsiantly  met  by  the  same  remarks  as  your  eorresjiondeiit.  At  the 
jirescmt  time  I  have  no  jirivute  gardener  on  my  book“,  alihougti  1  have 
acted  as  Local  Secretary  since  the  Knud  started.  I  have  iniieh  m  re, 
(lillienlty  new  than  I  had  at  first  in  gelling  gardeners  interested,  and  have 
thought  it  would  he  u  good  plan  to  inanguruie  pnhlie  meetings  in  some  of 
the  towns  or  districts  where  gardeners  are  nnmerens,  and  llien  lor  eur 
new  Secretary  (who,  hy-the-by,  I  cengriil nliile  upon  bis  uppeintmenl)  to 
come  and  explain  tlie  objects  and  working  id'  ihe  k'niid. 
1  (piilo  feel  there  are  tiin{‘s  wlnni  it  is  necessary  to  give  tlie  benefit  to 
more  than  one  child,  hnt  not  when  tlicie  are  several  otliers  of  the  same 
lamily  earning  money,  'fliere  is  no  doubt  gardeners  as  a  class  are  not 
ovei'p  id.  A  geiilleinan  afe\v(hi\s  ago  told  me  it  was  ditheult  to  g»  t 
good  giirifeners.  1  pointed  out  to  him  he  was  paying  his  ineehanies  and 
liibuiirers  better  than  he  paiil  his  gardener.  Not  wit  lisiumliiig  this,  kow- 
ev(‘r,  eiir  k’niid  ought  to  win  more  support  than  it  ilueii.— A.  .1.  HitoWN, 
Local  Secretary,  Cherlscy  and  District. 
NOTFiS  ON  YOlJNCi  VI NFS. 
To  hiivo  Crapi's  ripe  at  the  end  of  jMareli  or  the  hegiiinii.g  of  April  flic 
Vines  to  piednee  them  must  he  started  not  later  than  No»«niiier.  mid  as 
they  will  have  to  in  ike  growth  and  perfect  the  crop  nmlcr  adverse 
exicriial  (liimilic  conditions,  it  is  imperative  that  ciil-liavks  ol  last  v  ears 
raising  should  now  receive  their  (iiuil  shift,  so  us  to  allow  time  for  them 
to  make  and  mainro  a  guod  g  row  tli  early.  'I’lie  pots,  12  inches  in  diameter, 
innst  lie  clean,  rdlieicnily  diaiiK'd,  and  have  a  lavcr  of  the  r(ingtu'St  et' 
the  compost  on  the  (lraiiiiii;e  ;  avoid  bones,  as  ilicv  lavenr  various  aiiimul 
jiesis.  i‘ot  (irmly  in  good  fibrous  loam,  wil-ti  alionl  a  lenili  ot  old  inorttir 
riibbisli.  a  pint  ot  steamed  hoiKMiii  al,  a  ipiurt  ot  soul,  mill  a  gallon  of 
woodaslns  to  each  bariowlnl  of  loam.  'I’lie  \'in.s  ate  best  placi'd  <  n 
sh(dv(M  over  itie  lml-wiii«*r  pipes.  Kcc[)  Ibc  bouse  rallier  c)os(‘,  mid  it  tlm 
weather  be  bright  shade  for  a  few  days,  'rrain  the  canes  alimii  1  loot 
(liHltince  (rein  the  glass,  and  give  all  the  light  piNiclicidile  to  insure  the 
8  )lidilicatimi  of  the  grow  ths. 
'I’lie  planiiiig  of  young  Vinos  slionld  he  done  when  tlicy  are  staitirg 
into  growth,  and  not  more  advaiiicd  than  an  inch  or  two.  V\lui(‘ 
provision  has  la  cn  made  n  r  insiilc  and  oniside  lidiihrs  tlie  Vines  stiould 
tie  planted  III  the  fornier,  whuh  will  be  siillicient  lor  scvt  itd  years,  as  a 
wiiitb  ot  4  bet  is  mn|iU‘  ibe  lirst  year,  tind  unmit  If  leet  vvnlih  can  bo 
iiildcd  annually.  Some  growers  jireier  lo  do  i bis  cv<  ry  si  coi.d  or  ihird 
year,  iidding  to  llio  border  idiont  4  lo  fi  (eet  w  nlili.  'fhe  Viiu’s,  it  cut. 
iiaidis  of  last  year,  ma\  be  sbakin  mil  mid  |  lacid  in  |iosilioii  either  telmc 
or  after  they  have  grown  to  tlie  extent  of  an  men  or  two,  the  ri  <ils  being 
disciuung  led  and  siiretid  oiit  evenly  in  the  border,  em  enng  t  In  in  ahmit 
ft  inelies  di cp,  mid  watering  modi  riiltdy  to  s(  itle  ilie  soil  about  ilnni. 
Vines  of  the  piaseiit  year’s  raising  will  not  need  to  bi‘  plunteil  fur  some 
tioi<‘  I'ct.  'I'liev  are  jireleraldy  raised  in  sipiares  of  iiirt',  and  may  la; 
li'aiited  when  tli(>  roots  are  j  iMirnding  through  the  sides,  the  breaking 
ot  the  rootlets  (.xnniliiig  beyond  lavoiinng  a  libroiis  not  hriiiitlion,  or 
if  in  poiH  liny  stiould  be  turned  out  bdore  they  lucome  roo,- liom.d. 
'fliey  will  rMptirea  leniperntnre  at  pl.intmg  suitable  to  Vines  in  g  row  i  li 
_ tlial  is,  (io“  to  (15°  at  niglit,  amt  7D°  to  by  ('av,  with  mi  inlxanee 
of  10“  to  l.')°  Irom  snn  beat.  Vines  of  last  year,  Imvvever.  slHinlil  be 
allowed  t.i  stmt  umiided,  syiingiiig  them  two  or  tlir.'c  linns  a  day 
according  to  tlie  weailier,  mnl  vi  iiiilutiiig  Irei  ly  at  d5°,  wuli  a  little 
from  .'itk. 
Voting  \’ines  ]iliinl(al  Iti't  y  ear  ami  ent  Imek  fo  (lie  bottom  (d'  ilio  rafters 
or  trellis  at  the  w  inn  r  pruning  must  tic  enroniagi  d  by  g<  title  (iie  In  at.  lo 
allow  lime  for  tin  ir  inaliing  mi  l  peileodng  a  good  giowili.  The  lat.  rids 
slionld  have  thi'  rpmnis  pincln  d  out  at  tlie  hist  lea'  to  a  In  iglii  ol  (i  lei  t 
lip  the  canes,  w  hieh  will  cause  the  buds  in  llu*  axils  ot  the  jniiieipal  b  a  w  s 
to  form  fruit  bn  Is  an  I  lim  on c  plump  lor  next  heuson’s  uniting  ;  tiliioe 
that  height  tho\  noiy  be  uHosk  d  to  gtow.  It  is  a  lieiler  plan,  Imwexer, 
to  stop  the  cane  at  about  7  leet  d  im  lies,  train  a  laleiai  Irom  it  us  n. 
coii'iiiiiatio  •,  stop  tins  at  f!  (l  et,  and  so  on  until  Ihe  lop  ol  the  house  is 
reached,  stoeiiing  all  hi  ertds  to  one  joint,  and  sub-liiiei tils  to  one  lea' 
iis  made,  'fids  seenres  iln  roughly  lijiened  growth  and  a  stout  etir.r  f.em 
the  base  upwards.  Wlic  e  the  eunes  have  been  pruned  to  three  buds  of 
the  I  ot  om  ol  the  rafieri  or  trelli.s  the  growth  from  the  tippeimosi  tliould 
