96 GARDEN FLOWERS. 



Strong before the combs appear, and you have a chance of 

 having many very fine, but with the risk that many others, 

 from their shape, will be fit only for the rubbish-heap. By 

 the second method, the best for those with limited space, 

 the young plants are pricked out a few inches apart into 

 shallow pans, in light, rich earth, encouraged to grow freely, 

 and then checked suddenly by keeping them cooler, and 

 withholding water, which will cause them to show their 

 combs in a few days. Though small, you can easily observe 

 those which are close and well shaped from those which will 

 be upright and straggling. Select the best, pot them, and 

 continue repotting, and encourage with heat and manure- 

 water ; and the strength of your culture going chiefly into 

 the combs, these will be large, while your plants will be 

 small. Where extremely dwarf plants are w^anted, cut off 

 young plants a little below the comb ; insert the part with 

 the comb into a small pot, in sandy soil, in strong heat, and 

 a hand-glass over. Soil, sandy loam and very rotten dung, 

 but sweet. Temperature when growing, 60° to 85° by day; 

 60° at night. 



The variety ain-ea is a fine plumed Indian plant with 

 sho\\'y feather}' golden flowers. Variety coccinea, a native of 

 China, has scarlet crimson flowers. Both, when \vell grown, 

 are very showy. 



Celsia. [Scrophulariaceae.] Half-hardy biennials and 

 annuals, the former requiring frame or greenhouse protec- 

 tion in the winter. Light sandy open soil. Propagated by 

 seed. 



C. Arctiiriis (Arcturus) ; half-hardy biennial ; 4 feet ; flowers 

 yellow, in August; Candia ; 1780. C. betoniccEfolia (betony- 

 leaved) ; half-hardy biennial ; 2 feet ; flowers yellow, in July ; 

 North Africa ; 1824. C. Crctica (Cretan) ; half-hardy biennial ; 6 

 feet ; flowers yellow, in July ; Crete ; 1752. C. lanceolata{\2.\\Q.Q.- 

 leaved) ; half-hardy biennial ; 3 feet ; flowers yellow, in July ; 



