Plate 315. 

 COLETTS VEITCITTT. 



'I'he very general deraand for plants for bedding purposes, 

 lias induced us to give figures of several of those wliicli we 

 believe are likely to prove useful for tliat ]uirpose, and having 

 already figured CoJeus Gibsonn, we now add a still more showy 

 variety, introduced by Mi-. John G. Veitch from New Caledonia, 

 being one of the novelties obtained by him during his voyage 

 in the southern seas. 



When the defects of the system of glaring colours witli 

 Avhich tlic Ix'dding system was inaugurated were pointed out, 

 and tlie desirability suggested of adding other colours, it was 

 at once seen that foliage would be quite as useful as flowers 

 for this purpose, and that more sombre tones were required to 

 effect this ; hence, Perilla Nankanensis, Purple Orach, Beetroot, 

 and other tilings wer(> suggest(>d and are still used. Then it 

 was ftnind tiiat Cnlcus VtrachuffeUii and the scaVlet-leaved ^lina- 

 ranth would suit admirably for the same pnr])ose, and when 

 Mr. Gibson hail arranged his subtropical gnrden at liattersea, it 

 was seen how largely foliage^ did come into service; thus, e\en 

 the geraniunis, Mrs. I'v/ioc/c, Golden Fleece, and other varieties 

 are used for their foliage and not for their flowers, — the beds 

 ill fact looking better when they are denuded of flowers. AVe 

 cannot but think, then, that the two varieties of Colens, though 

 perhaps not so brilliant as Yerscliatj'eltii, will yet be found (piite 

 suited for giving a change of colour. 



Coleus Veitchii has very large, almost heart-shaped, leaves 

 of a deep chocolate-colour, with the edges of a bright lively 

 green, and with a peculiar gloomy lustre on them ; it is a plant 



