THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 51 



beautiful plants. If employed for edgiugs, we should see the out- 

 lines of the beds marked as plainly and as brishtly all the winter as 

 in summer. Many of them, such as the Cuilisii variety of the 

 silvery-edged ivy, acquire beautiful red tintings in winter, and are 

 almost equal to tricolour geraniums. Messrs. Lucombe, Piuce, and 

 Co., of Exeter, have long since adapted variegated ivies to their proper 

 use, and have some margins formed of ivies in their flower garden. 



Artemisia argentea. — This lovely plant may be grown as a 

 close line, and then makes a lustrous silvery edging ; or it may be 

 formed into a perfect little tree, in which case it is very elegant, and 

 well adapted for decorative purposes. It is as hardy as chickweed, 

 and, in the form of a miniature tree, well adapted for the embellish- 

 ment of the winter garden. 



CoLEus Veeschaffelti is not superseded by any of the newly- 

 discovered plants that compete with it, by a display of richly- 

 coloured leaves. It is as valuable as ever, and when effectively 

 contrasted, presents a glorious mass of the richest crimson, deep- 

 ening to chocolate shades. It is a most easy task to propagate this 

 fine plant ; all that is needful is a steady moist heat. The cuttings 

 may be taken off as fast as suitable shoots are produced on the old 

 plants, and they root well in about ten days. From the present 

 time to the end of March is most suitable for propagating this 

 plant, to have a nice stock for planting at the end of May. 



Amaeanthus mela:n'Cholicxjs. — This splendid plant is, like the 

 Coleus, still unique in its way ; none of the newer Amaranths sur- 

 passing it in colour. Any quantity may be grown with as much 

 ease as growing stocks or balsams. A pinch of seed sown now, or 

 in the course of three or four weeks, in light soil, and placed in a 

 steady heat of 60°, will in due time furnish plants that will be 

 strong for planting out in May. S. H. 



AEUJSTDO CONSPICUA. 



T is important that every amateur gardener should be 

 acquainted with this noble hardy grass, for though it 

 does not eclipse or supersede the glorious Pampas grass 

 (^Gynerium arcjenteuiii) it will be valued wherever the 

 pampas is regarded as an embellishment of the garden. 

 It is of robust growth, with broader leaves than the pampas, but 

 the leaves are considerably less in length, and the plant makes a 

 flatter mass ; or at all events we cannot compare it to a fountain, 

 which is the favourite figure when the pampas is described. Arundo 

 conspicua is not only bold and distinct as a grass, but it flowers 

 most abundantly from the middle of June to the end of November. 

 This is one of its best features, for throughout the greater part of 

 the summer, and long before the lovely Gynerium shows a single 

 spike, this is covered with silvery panicles, that render it at once a 

 conspicuous and a beautiful adornment of the garden. Any good 

 soil will suit it, but in a rich soil with plenty of water all the sum- 

 mer, it becomes a grander plant than if starved. S. H. 



