68 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[March, 



most sombre hue, but so striking withal as to 

 attract general attention. Some looked upon it 

 as the forerunner of a class of plants destined to 

 play an important part in the future, whilst 

 others regarded it as a vile weed. ^Nevertheless, 

 considerable attention was bestowed upon its 

 cultivation for a time ; but ultimately became 

 so neglected as to be met with chiefl}' as a gar- 

 den weed. This may have been owing in some 

 measure to the introduction of Coleus Blumei, 

 which species was regarded with greater favor, 

 and at once took a place which it held fairly well 

 for a time, or until he whose name I bear ob- 

 tained from it varieties so novel and brilliant in 

 color, as to entitle them to rank high amongst 

 the time-honored favorites of the garden. 



From the most reliable information, I infer 

 that this species at least is one of ray immediate 

 ancestors, and whether I owe as much of kinship 

 to any other has not been made known. But 

 this I do know, from the day I was first intro- 

 duced to the public in my chocolate and violet- 

 colored suit until the present time, I have been 

 praised as few plants have been. But being 

 neither envious nor vain, I have desired the com- 

 pany of those whose colors are brighter than my 

 own, as variety in harmony gives greater satis- 

 faction than any one can singly bestow. Some 

 of the older varieties are well fitted to produce 

 this effect, and none more so, perhaps, than my 

 old friends aurea marginata and golden circle ; 

 but the majority of their class either lack expres- 

 sion, or are so delicately constituted as to become 

 perfect "frights" when planted out of doors. 



During my time, many varieties with excellent 

 characters when in my company have perform- 

 ed their parts but poorly, whilst others have had 

 enough to do to keep up a doubtful reputation. 

 It was with pleasure, therefore, I hailed the 

 arrival of a fresh set from England a short time 

 ago, headed by George Bunyard, who, with his 

 companions were so highly spoken of that I 

 hoped one or more of them would prove of ser- 

 vice to me. But this hope has not been realized, 

 and to-day, for all of them, I am as destitute of 

 support as I was before their arrival. Poor 

 George, — after being much in his company for a 

 season, it is only fair to say, he performed his 

 part so poorly that I hope, for the ci'edit of both, 

 we shall never meet again under similar circum- 

 stances. 



What the incoming season may bring forth 

 yet remains to be seen, but at present the pros- 

 pects are good for a grand display, as a new or- 



der of aspirants are being marshaled for duty, 

 whose merits, some say, are such as to eclipse 

 the old members of our family, and even take 

 from me the honors I have enjoyed so long. 

 Should their claim be well founded, I shall sur- 

 render my right to the first place without regret, 

 and be even glad to take any subordinate place 

 I may be deemed competent to fill. But should 

 they fail to meet the expectations thus produced, 

 it will be my duty to remain at my post until 

 such time as new varieties are found, regarding 

 whose merits there can be no doubt. 



Be it understood, that what has been said 

 about my associates has reference only to them 

 as bedders; for it is well known, many varieties 

 when grown under glass, and partially shaded 

 from the glare of sunshine, possess greater 

 brilliancy and beauty than I lay claim to. For 

 this reason,! think those so constituted as to re- 

 quire the protection of a greenhouse, should be 

 sparingly, if at all, planted out of doors, and the 

 outside department exclusively occupied by such 

 as attain their greatest perfection in free air and 

 the full tide of sunlight. 



Before closing this monologue, I am forced to 

 say a word in behalf of a plant seemingly pos- 

 sessed of extraordinary capacity for the work in 

 which I excel. I refer to Acalypha Macaffeana, 

 the leaves of which are large and finely formed ; 

 color, reddish-brown, and irregularly blotched 

 with bright shades of crimson. When fully ex- 

 posed to sunlight it looks as if " on fire through 

 all its length," and being much more stately 

 than myself might form the central figure in a 

 group of Coleus or other plants with the greatest 

 acceptance. 



THE CARDINAL FLOWER. 



BY A. G. MOORE, BERLIN HEIGHTS, O. 



Last Summer was the first I ever saw the Car- 

 dinal flower under cultivation. The ground was 

 made very rich, while there was a Caladium escu- 

 lentum in the back ground, so it had plenty of 

 water. In its native state it has some three or 

 four inches of leaves on a single spike at a time, 

 but this more than doubled it, and as the flowers 

 withered below, it threw out side branches 

 which flowered, so it had flowers below and 

 above at the same time, and kept in bloom over 

 a month. While it has not the delicate beauty 

 of the Purple Fringe Orchis, is not gay like the 

 Rhododendron, graceful like the Deutzia, nor 

 sweet like the Pink, it shows its color well. 

 They are easily transplanted after forcing. 



