142 
JOURNAL  Or  horticulture  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
August  13,  1903. 
frequently  by  this  means  diffused  as  much  pleasure  among  a 
number  of  workmen  as  though  I  had  done  them  the  greatest 
service  in  the  world.  There  are  those  who  would  demur  at 
thus  giving  away  plants  when  there  are  many  who  have  to 
get  their  living  by  selling  them.  But  in  reality  it  is  a  help 
to  the  trade  ;  for  by  this  means  the  foundation  is  laid  for 
a  love  of  flowers.  Those  who  have  had  them  once  will  not 
like  to  be  without  them,  and  will  purchase  many  a  plant 
in  order  to  kee'p  up  the  supply,  especially  when  they  have 
gained  a  slight  knowledge  of  the  way  in  which  they  should 
be  managed.  The  gift  of  a  piece  of  a  Cactus,  a  few  rooted 
pieces  of  Chrysanthemums,  or  a  few  offsets  of  any  herba¬ 
ceous  plants  are  carried  home  Avith  delight.  And  where 
is  the  garden  Avhere  such  would  be  deemed  any  loss  1  Thou¬ 
sands  of  slips  and  cuttings  are  annually  thrown  away ;  many 
gardeners  prefer  doing  so  to  giving  them  away,  even  to  the 
poor  cottager,  on  the  excuse  that  it  is  hurtful  to  trade. 
The  sooner  they  are  disabused  of  such  reasoning  the  better, 
since  the  contrary  is  actually  the  case. 
But  what  I  have  chieflj-  to  suggest  is,  that  some  atten¬ 
tion  be  paid  to  the  kind  of  plants  most  suitable  and  best 
adapted  to  be  grown  in  close  courts  and  smoky  thorough¬ 
fares.  It  is  evident  that  all  plants  will  not  do  alike,  nor  is 
it  possible  that  plants  Avill  ever  be  grown  in  such  localities 
as  are  shown  in  all  the  prime  of  perfect  beauty  at  first-class 
floAver  shows.  Specimen  Heaths,  Azaleas,  and  New  Holland 
plants  can  neA'er  be  grown  on  AvindoAv  ledges  ;  and  those 
plants  that  can  be  must  necessarily  be  limited  in  number, 
for  the  reason  that  those  Avho  haA’e  the  management  of  them 
are  not  experienced  growers.  In  the  hands  of  experienced 
cultivators  A’ery  many  plants  are  capable  of  being  brought 
to  a  certain  stage  of  perfection  by  window  culture,  but  the 
chances  are  reduced  in  proportion  to  the  unfavourable  con¬ 
dition  of  the  locality.  Where  it  may  be  easy  work  in  the 
country,  it  becomes  difficult  in  the  midst  of  dust,  smoke, 
and  draught,  even  in  practised  hands. 
What,  then,  must  be  the  difficulty  AA'ith  those  who  know 
little  or  nothing  about  the  matter  ?  I  have  often  been 
shoAvn  a  sooty-looking  plant  and  been  asked  the  cause  of 
its  present  condition,  why  the  leaves  fall  off  prematurely, 
why  it  does  not  flower,  and  so  on.  In  ten  cases  out  of 
twelve  the  plant  happened  to  be  a  scarlet  Pelargonium,  a  plant 
little  adapted  to  grow  in  a  dusty  place,  the  downy  surface 
of  the  leaf  being  favourable  to  the  lodgment  of  dust.  A 
glance  at  the  plant  showed  that  the  pores  of  the  leaves 
were  stopped  and  could  not  perform  their  functions,  that 
the  operation  of  potting  Avas  by  no  means  properly  under¬ 
stood,  and  that  it  Avas  tortured  to  the  extreme  by  being 
made  to  stand  in  Avater,  and  being  subjected  to  a  daily  dose 
of  the  same  Avhether  it  liked  it  or  not.  It  is  scarcely  to 
be  expected  that  such  florists  are  going  to  exhibit  good 
specimens  of  Pelargoniums,  or  compete  Avith  country 
growers.  But  CA’en  with  such  a  beginning,  knowledge  may 
increase  with  experience,  and  practice  may  point  out  the 
best  plants  to  grow,  and  the  best  method  of  growing  them. 
It  is  too  much  to  say  that  perfection  has  been  attained 
Avhen  Ivy  has  been  groAA-n  in  an  old  box  and  trained  over  the 
windoAv,  or  that  Mustard  and  Cress  has  been  groAvn  in  an 
old  colander. 
The  Chrysanthemum  is  not  of  the  most  smooth-leaved 
plants,  yet  its  adaptability  to  town  culture  is  well  known 
and  fully  established;  and  even  the  Pelargonium  under  fair 
treatrnent  may  present  a  creditable  appearance.  The 
Fuchsia  and  the  Genista  are  rather  smooth-leaved,  and  are 
A'Cry  good  town  plants.  The  Pentstemon  is  sure  to  do 
well ;  and  I  think  a  great  deal  might  be  said  for  plants  of 
ornamental  foliage,  especially  the  smooth-leaved  ones,  as 
Farfugium  grande.  But,  again,  I  think  the  chief  depend- 
ance  ought  to  be  placed  on  herbaceous  plants  of  close  habit, 
Avhich  make  A’ery  neat  pot  plants.  Hoav  I  should  like  to 
see  some  town  groAver  grting  all  his  spare  time  and  atten¬ 
tion  to  a  collection  of  Saxifrages,  than  which  nothing  can 
be  prettier  or  neater,  or  even  better  adapted  for  the  pur¬ 
pose.  And  why  not  the  commonest  among  them — the 
London  Pride  (Saxifraga  umbrosa),  a  plant  well  adapted 
to  spread  over  pots  and  boxes,  hanging  doAvn  and  making 
a  verdurous  appearance  on  a  AvindoAv-silU  The  Sedums 
and  SemperA’iAuims  are  both  excellent  subjects  for  town 
culture — that  is,  if  a  proper  selection  of  them  be  made — 
the  common  Stonecrop  and  the  common  Houseleek,  a 
sample  of  each  often  groAvs  luxuriantly  on  the  housetop 
fipd  the  windoAA-.sill.  Campanula  pumila,  Alyssums,  Arabis, 
Vincas,  and  Auriculas  might  be  added  to  the  list.  Indeed, 
I  haA’e  known  the  latter  groAvn,  if  not.  to  perfection,  at  least 
very  creditably  at  a  garret  window  ;  and  what  has  been 
done  before  may  be  done  again,  for  the  person  who  grew 
them  knew  very  little  of  plants  or  plant-cultivation 
generally. 
The  advantages  of  having  plants  with  hard  or  smooth 
leaves  is  that  they  are  kept  clean  AA’ith  A’ery  little  trouble, 
as  a  sponging  noAV  and  then  Avill  accomplish  it.  and  does 
no  injury  ;  and  that  of  ordinary  herbaceous  plants,  that 
they  are  less  subject  to  be  infested  with  aphides  or  other 
pests,  and  when  groAvn  in  the  midst  of  town  smoke  they  are 
not  likely  to  be  eaten  by  caterpillars  or  slugs,  as  such  pests 
are  not  likely  to  traA’el  so  far  out  of  their  way  in  quest  of 
food.  There  are  still  other  plants  that  possess  a  wonderful 
property  of  resisting  all  the  attacks  of  insects  and  other 
counteracting  influences.  I  have  known  a  plant  of  Ficus 
elastica  which  for  many  years  kept  its  place  in  a  window 
in  the  heart  of  London,  and  it  ahvays  looked  fresh  and 
healthy. 
I  haA’e  another  suggestion  which,  Avithin  certain  limits, 
may  be  worth  attention.  In  towns,  Avhere  the  light  is 
obstructed  by  buildings  as  Avell  as  by  a  perpetual  cloud 
of  smoke,  it  is  scarcely  possible  that  plants  which  in  their 
natural  habitat  enjoy  the  full  light  of  the  sun  can  be 
expected  to  do  well.  But  happily  there  are  plants  that 
naturally  seek  the  shade  of  Avoods.  Among  these  we  find 
the  Oxalis,  the  Wood  Anemone,  the  Lily  of  the  Valley,  the 
Woodruff,  the  Periwinkle  ;  there  are  besides  that  neat  and 
still  pretty  trailing,  but  rather  neglected  plant,  the  common 
Moneywort  (Lysimachia  nummularia),  and  many  more 
plants  that  are  in  reality  not  the  less  attractive  on  account 
of  being  found  in  a  wild  state  in  this  country.  I  have  an 
idea  that  such  are  likely  to  be  more  attractive  among  the 
poorer  townspeople  than  exotic  plants,  on  account  of  their 
association  with  the  scenes  of  their  holiday  rambles ;  at 
any  rate,  I  have  known  a  common  Primrose  prized  and 
cherished  with  as  much  or  even  more  regard  than  the 
well-to-do  has  for  his  choice  collection  of  exotics. — T.  C. 
- - 
Codiffiums  (Crotons). 
Propagation. — The  time  Avill  soon  be  at  hand  to  commence 
propagating  these  popular  and  useful  plants.  Some  gardeners 
prefer  to  do  this  in  the  early  spring,  but  where  serviceable  young 
plants  are  required  in  April,  May,  and  June  it  is  advisable  to 
propagate  in  September.  Procure  well-coloured  tops,  and  insert 
them  singly  in  thumb-pots  filled  with  a  mixture  of  loam,  sand, 
and  plenty  of  leaf  soil ;  they  root  A’ery  readily  in  the  latter. 
Place  the  pots  in  a  propagating  frame,  wherein  a  good  bottom 
heat  is  maintained.  Syringe  them  lightly  every  morning,  and 
keep  the  frame  closed  during  the  day ;  at  night  remove  the 
light.  If  bottom  heat  by  means  of  hot  water  piping  is  not 
available,  fill  the  frame  half  full  with  stable  manure  or  leaves, 
place  a  layer  of  saAvdust  or  cocoa-nut  fibre'  on  top,  and  plunge  the 
pots  into  it. 
When  the  cuttings  are  rooted,  take  them  out  of  the  frame 
and  stand  them  in  a  shady  position  in  the  stoA’e  for  a  couple  of 
days  before  potting  them.  A  shift  into  large  60  or  54  size  pot 
Avill  be  large  enough  to  carry  them  through  the  winter.  For 
potting  use  tivo  parts  fibry  loam,  one  of  leaf  soil,  and  one  of 
charcoal  and  broken  crocks.  In  February  shift  them  on  into 
48  and  32  size  pots.  Plants  of  a  good  size,  and  suitable  .for 
house  and  table  decoration,  can  be  groAvn  in  48’s. 
Summer  Treatment. — The  plants  should  at  all  times  be  placed 
in  such  a  position  in  the  house  that  they  will  receive  plenty 
of  light  ancl  sunshine;  the  nearer  the  glass  they  can  be  kept  the 
better.  Fse  the  syringe  among  them  freely  tAvo  or  three  times 
a  day,  according  to  the  weather.  Besides  promoting  a  free 
growth  this  will  keep  insect  pests  doAvn.  To  ensure  freedom 
from  the  latter  it  is  an  excellent  plan  to  .syringe  the  plants  once 
a  week  with  some  insecticide;  2oz  of  softsoap,  and  the  same 
cjuantity  of  pai’affin  oil  to  ev’ery  gallon  of  water,  takes  some 
beating  for  keeping  Crotons  dean  if  used  properly.  V  hen  the 
pots  are  full  of  roots  stimulants  may  be  given  to  them  with 
beneficial  effect.  Diluted  cowshed  drainings  is  the  A’ery  thing. 
EndoaA’our  to  obtain  as  much  growth  as  possible  in  the  plants 
during  the  spring  and  early  summer,  and  then  direct  attention 
to  the  colouring  of  them.  The'  system  I  adopt  to  obtain  a 
good  colour  is,  when  sufficient  groAvth  is  made,  to  admit  plenty 
of  air,  especially  on  calm  days ;  at  the  same  time  maintain  a  good 
heat  in  the  pipes,  and  keep  the  atmosphere  of  the  house  some¬ 
what  drier  than  usual.  Further,  leaA’e  a  crack  of  air  on  all  night 
when  the  outside  temperature  is  above  58deg.  This  treatment 
will  bring  out  all  the  bright  and  A’arious  colours — Avhich  are  so 
much  admired  in  a  well  grown  batch  of  Crotons — to  perfection. 
— Geo.  Rimmer,  Waddesdon  Gardens,  Aylesbury. 
