1870.] IRESINE HERBSTII. 181 



sionally put at the top, and vice versa. They also give an easy mode 

 of transit to the planting-ground. And now, fellow-readers, I close 

 my Potato gossip in the hope that in a few months I shall be able to 

 resume it to our mutual advantage. 



A. D. 



IRESINE HERBSTII. 



I find this charming plant, when used for bedding purposes, subject 

 to many complaints, which, from my own experience, I think are quite 

 undeserved. The Iresine, in some situations, is said to be deficient in 

 colouring, and especially to be wanting in freedom of growth. A 

 narrow border here last season put its merits fully to the test ; and 

 after two seasons' trial, I think it is justly entitled to a prominent 

 place as a bedding-plant. This border was quite a treat of itself, and I 

 believe a description of it may not be out of place. Beginning with the 

 front line, which was of Arabis lucida variegata, we next had a line of 

 Blue Lobelia, then Golden Feather Pyrethrum ; the next was Iresine and 

 variegated Veronica Andersonii, the back line of Mrs Pollock and 

 Silver Chain Pelargoniums alternated. But the Veronica might very 

 well have been dispensed with, as it was scarcely ever seen amongst 

 the Iresine, which was a perfect mass of splendid colour, and every 

 plant nearly 2 feet through. Situated as the flower-garden is here, 

 lying close to the base of the Cheviots, and exposed to every wind 

 that blows, the north excepted, the result was beyond all expectation, 

 and gave sufficient proof of its adaptability for bedding. The season 

 of 1868, however, was not so satisfactory ; but that was an exceptional 

 season, and the unusual drought easily accounts for its not doing so 

 well. The Iresine, however, I consider one of the most useful and 

 ornamental plants we have for the flower-garden, as it gives us a colour we 

 should otherwise be without ; and now when foliage plants have almost 

 superseded flowering kinds, I should not like to be without it, and more 

 especially when it is so easy of propagation that it can be got up by 

 the thousand in a short time. The system we have in propagating is 

 to place the cuttings in pans of sand and water, striking by sun-heat, 

 with the aid of a slight bottom-heat. The best plan is to have a few 

 old stock plants, as I have found it almost useless to make cuttings of 

 it in autumn, as it is but a slight chance that they will strike, and 

 even then will not make so good plants as those got up from spring 

 cuttings. After striking, which will only take a few days, pot them 

 off into boxes, with plenty of half-decayed leaves in the bottom ; if 



