MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE 95 



REMARKS. 



Upon tub Crested Amaranth, or Cock's Comb. Celosia Cristata.— 

 The flowers of this plant are so numerous and small, and so closely set 

 together on an irregular and flattish surface, that it frequently looks more 

 like a piece of rich velvet than a vegetable substance. We do not find it 

 placed in floral language, and have therefore given it as the emblem of 

 singularity. It is a native of several parts of Asia, and is common in 

 Persia, China, and Japan, where we are informed it is grown to such per- 

 fection, that the crests or heads of flowers are frequently a foot in length 

 and breadth. The most perfect plant of this kind grown in England, was 

 grown by Thomas Andrew, Knight, Esq. and sent by him to the Horticul- 

 tural Society of London in October 1820, a drawing ol this extraordinary 

 flower is now to be seen in the.library of that institution ; the flower of this 

 extraordinary plant measured seven inches in height, and eighteen inches 

 in width, it was thick and full, and of a most intense purplish red colour. 



In producing this singular plant, the first object was to retard the pro- 

 trusion of the flower stalk, so as to give it as much strength as possible. 

 The compost employed was of the most nutritive and stimulating kind 

 consiting of one part of unfermented horse-dung, fresh from the stable, and 

 without litter, one part of burnt turf, one part of decayed leaves, and two 

 parts of green turf, the latter being in lumps of about an inch in diameter, 

 in order to keep the moss hollow, that the water might have free liberty to 

 escape, and the air to enter. There are varieties of Cockscombs with yel- 

 low, red, purple, and white corollas. 



FLORICULTURAL CALENDAR FOR APRIL. 

 Plant Stove. — Still support the requisite degree of heat by fires at night, 

 as the plants will now begin to show their blossoms, which should be en- 

 couraged as much as possible at this season. Fresh air, when the weather is 

 favourable, is very necessary, and should always be admitted when required; 

 this will greatly assist their flowering, and cause the new shoots to be strong 

 and healthy. This month is the most proper time to pot such plants as may 

 require it, taking great care to use such compost as is congenial to them, and 

 use plenty of drainage. Any that do not require shifting into larger pots 

 may have the surface soil renewed with fresh compost, which will greatly 

 invigorate them, and also add to their neatness. The same directions re"- 

 specting watering and cleanliness may be observed, as given last month. 

 Still propagate all kinds of exotics by means of seeds, cuttings, lavers or 

 suckers, according to the nature of the diffeient kinds ; insert them "in pots 

 and plunge them in hot-beds, which will promote their vegetation and rooting 

 quickly and certainly. 



Greenhouse. — These plants will now require large admissions of air at 

 all times when the weather is mild, for as most of them will now be shootino- 

 freely, they must not be kept too close. The plants must now be looked over 

 to see when water is wanted, and let all the plants be properly supplied there- 

 with, as this is now a very necessary article, particularly when they are in the 

 house; be careful of the succulent kinds. Let no decayed leaves or shoots 

 be allowed to remain, but let such be taken off as soon as perceived ; and 

 all shoots that arc of a weak straggling growth must be pruned more or less 

 as appears necessary. Let no weed, moss, or litter, be seen on the tops of the' 

 pots and tubs; and if any foulness be contracted on the plants, let it be in- 

 stantly removed. In arch shrubby exotics of any particular kinds; sow 

 seed in pots, placing them in a hot-bed; sow seeds of orange, lemon, & c 

 for stocks ; also propagate by cuttings, layers ortherwise, and if placed in 

 h bark bed in the pine stove or hot bed, they will be greatly facilitated 

 in their rooting 



[TiRBACEori Perbnnmu, should now be divided and replanted' *l a(t 



