72 glenny's handbook 



protected slightly during April, and if needful the earlv part 

 of May. C. grandifiora is a dwarfish variety, equally pretty, 

 though different from hicolor. It grows six inches high, 

 spreading on the ground instead of growing erect ; flowers 

 rose purple and bright lilac in June. There are several other 

 pretty kinds, but differing only in their colours ; and every 

 year will add to the number of varieties, which will in time 

 perhaps become, like Larkspurs, most interesting in mixtures. 



COLLOMIA. [Polemoniacese.] Hardy annuals, allied to 

 Gilia, of very free growth. Common garden soil. The first 

 sowing should be in March, and the next in May, in the 

 open border, and the plants must be thinned while quite 

 small, that they may have room to grow strong and bushy. 



COLUTEA. Bladder Senna. [Legttminosae, § Papi- 

 lionaceae.] Deciduous shrubs. Common soil. Increased by 

 seeds or layers. 



COMAROSTAPHYLIS. Gritrerrt. [Ericaceae.] Ever- 

 green shrubs, bearing succulent edible fruits. Peat and loam 

 soil. Increased by seeds, by cuttings in autumn, or by grafting 

 on Arbutus. 



COMBRETUM. [Combretaceae.] Beautiful climbing 

 stove shrubs. They grow best in loam and peat, and may be 

 flowered in pots on a trellis, or planted out in the stove, 

 to climb lip the walls or along the roof. The cuttings are 

 rooted in sand, and potted off into small pots, w^hich are 

 allowed to be quite filled with roots before they are changed, 

 so as to give the plant a kind of check before they shift : for 

 this induces it to flower when of smaller size, and therefore 

 while it is more manageable in a pot. They are rambling 

 plants if allowed to grow rapidly under excitement. By this 

 caution we may flower the Combretums on a trellis four feet 

 high, whereas they may be made to cover a house. C. Pince- 

 anum, flow^ers purple red ; and C. purjmrewn, a rich crimson. 



COMMELINA. [Commehneae.] Perennials, including 

 tuberous-rooted and evergreen trailing, as well as stove, green- 

 house, and hardy species. The tuberous-rooted sorts are the 

 most useful for the garden ; they grow well in rich peat soil, 

 but do not refuse to flourish in good light garden soil. The 

 tubers should be taken up in winter, and preserved in a pot, 

 to be forwarded iu heat in spring, and planted out about 



