198 VILLA GARDENING part u 



at the time Balsams are in flower there are plenty of agencies at 

 work to cross-fertilise without taking the trouble to do it ourselves. 

 The Cockscomb (Celosia) is not so much cultivated as formerly, 

 though when of a good strain and well developed there can be no 

 question as to its eff"ectiveuess. The chief difiiculty is in securing 

 seeds of a really good strain, as the highly-bred plants, which 

 produce the largest, best-shaped combs, do not produce so many 

 seeds as those of inferior quality and breed. The only thing a 

 would-be-grower of Cockscombs can do is to start with the best 

 strain he can get. By a constant and rigid selection of his 

 stock and by saving his own seeds, he may hope in time to 

 originate a good strain of his own, and wiU soon find a demand 

 spring up for his seeds. This is the plan adopted by nearly 

 all the best growers, and it is a system that may be followed 

 with advantage in the case of every plant raised from seeds. The 

 old-fashioned hotbed made of fermenting materials is the best 

 medium for the production of superior combs. The genial warmth 

 and the atmosphere impregnated with ammonia seem just to suit 

 their requirements. The seeds should be sown in March or April, 

 and placed in the hotbed near the glass. Germination soon begins 

 in the case of these seeds, and the closer to the glass the young 

 plants are kept after they show above the soil the better. Prick 

 them ofi" when large enough to handle singly in 2|-inch pots, and 

 plunge again in the bed, as near the glass as possible, to keep them 

 short of leg and strong. Some growers starve them in small pots 

 to cause an early development of the comb, then select the best, 

 and grow on rapidly. This may suit those who cannot depend 

 upon their seeds being good, and have but limited space ; but 

 the best results are obtained by liberal treatment all through 

 their existence. Good foliage cannot be had on the starving plan. 

 The plants should continue in the hotbed till the combs are fidl 

 grown, and then be taken to the greenhouse, where they will con- 

 tinue in perfection for a long time if no damp is permitted to lodge 

 on them. 



The Pyramidal Cockscombs, with their long feathery flower 

 spikes of difi'ereut colours, are exceedingly ornamental ; indeed, 

 this race has in a very great measure superseded the old-fashioned 

 Cockscomb, as surer residts are obtained with less difficulty. 

 Besides, there is a grace and beauty about the waving plumes of 

 drooping yellow and crimson flowers that is absent from the stiff", 

 awkward -looking, old-fashioned combs ; and although strain or 

 breed has here also some influence, yet there is less difficulty in 

 securing seeds of a good strain. A hotbed is the best position for 

 the young plants in all their stages, though it is not so indispen- 



