Cineraria Cockscomb 



soft brush. From three to four dozen plants are easily cleansed by 

 hand in the time named. 



Star Cinerarias are grown under precisely the same conditions as 

 the Florists' or Show Cinerarias, and this new type of flower has re- 

 ceived a warm welcome for its singular gracefulness and beautiful 

 decorative - effect. In the conservatory and on the table it is an 

 admirable plant. The sprays admit of most charming arrangements 

 in vases with any kind of ornamental foliage, and maintain their beauty 

 for a long time in water. 



COCKSCOMB 



Celosia cristata. Tender annual 



THIS fine old-fashioned flower has won renewed popularity of late 

 years, probably as the result of a. number of well-grown plants 

 exhibited at horticultural shows. Those who can produce hand- 

 some Cinerarias, Balsams, and Calceolarias, will be likely to turn out 

 grand Cockscombs strongly coloured and on dwarf, leafy plants. 

 Liberal culture is essential, and the first start should be made in a 

 compost consisting mainly of rich light friable loam. Sow the seeds 

 on a rather brisk heat in February or March, a newly-made but 

 sweet hot-bed being the best place for the seed-pans. Prick out early 

 into very small pots, and shift on so as to encourage growth without 

 a check, and keep the plants on the hot-bed until the combs are 

 formed. It is well not to shift beyond the 8-inch size; then, by 

 allowing the roots to become pot-bound, the combs are soon produced. 

 This routine may be varied at convenience. In the first place, some 

 grand combs may appear on tall plants. The command of a brisk 

 hot-bed will easily enable you to improve these specimens. Prepare 

 pots one size at least smaller than those they are in, and cut off the 

 heads with a sufficient amount of stem attached, remove a few of the 

 lowest leaves, plant firmly in the new pots, put them on the hot-bed, 

 and they will make roots with surprising rapidity, and this will secure 

 what is admitted to be desirable large, symmetrical, richly coloured 

 combs upon dwarf stems. Another mode of procedure consists in 

 pricking the young plants into boxes, and starving them somewhat, 

 so as to promote premature production of combs, and then choosing 

 the best to grow in pots for decorative purposes. It matters not 

 how select the seed, or how careful the culture, a certain propoition 



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