gay colored foliage plants, but tender. To
keep looking well in winter they must have plenty of warmth and
sunlight. Root cuttings in August. They grow on very rapidly. Make
selections from the garden or a florist's, as they come in a great
variety of colors and markings.

_Dracaena_--The best of all plants, outside the palms, for centers of
vases, boxes and large pots. Small plants make very beautiful centers
for fern dishes. The colored section need to be kept on the warm side.
Give plenty of water in summer, but none on the leaves in winter, as it
is apt to lodge in the leaf axils and cause trouble.

_Dracaena_ (_Cordyline_)--_Indivisa_, with long, narrow, recurved green
leaves, is the one mostly used. The various colored sorts are described
in most catalogues.

_Leopard Plant_--_Farfugium grande_, better known as Leopard Plant, has
handsome dark green leaves marked with yellow. It is of the easiest
culture, standing zero weather. Old plants may be divided in spring and
rooted in sand. There is a newer variety with white spots, very
beautiful. The farfugium is now more commonly listed as _Senecio
Kaempferi_.

_Pandanus_--The Screw Pine is another favorite decorative plant, easily
grown. The leaves are two or three feet long and come out spirally, as
the name indicates. As they get older they curve down gracefully, giving
a very pleasing effect.

The soil for pandanuses should contain a generous amount of sand. Give
plenty of water in summer, little in winter, and be sure that none of it
lodges in the axils of the leaves, as rot is very easily induced.

New plants are produced from suckers at the base of the old ones.

_Pandanus utilis_ is the variety most commonly seen. _P. Veitchii_, dark
green bordered with broad stripes of pure white, is much more
decorative, a really beautiful plant. _P. Sanderi_ is another good sort,
with golden yellow coloring, that should be given a trial.

_Pepper_--Some of the peppers make very attractive pot plants on account
of their bright fruit, which is very pretty in all stages of growth from
the new green pods, through yellow to bright red. Buy new plants or
start from seed in spring. They are easily grown if kept on the warm
side. Celestial and Kaleidoscope are the two kinds best suited for
house culture.

_The Rubber_ (_Ficus._) This is the most popular of all formal
decorative plants. At least part of the secret of its success
undoubtedly lies in the fact that--almost l