THE HOME FLORIST. 



45 



Fig. 37. Monthly Carnation Plant in Pot. Fig. 38. Monthly Carnation Flower. 



appearance and growth of the flowers. They possess numerous good colors, scarlet or crimson 

 being the most brilliant, and are exceedingly rich and showy. The plants are grown from seed, 

 which should be started in heat, and transplanted to the garden after frosts are over, as they are 

 easily killed by freezing. In the hot-bed or window give plenty of air to the young seedlings 

 lest they dampen off or rot to the ground. The plants, especially of the dwarf varieties, are 

 admirably suited to pot culture in summer, thriving almost equal to those planted out, if the soil 

 is rich and sandy. Several new varieties of late years are attracting considerable attention. 



CENTAUREA (Greenhouse Perennial, 30, 43, 80). 



An interesting and beautiful genus of white-foliaged ornamental plants that rank higher 

 among the several distinct kinds possessing similar attractions than any other family,- either 

 when grown in pots, baskets or vases, or if bedded out, for which purpose they are not only 

 generally valuable but exceedingly attractive, especially when used for planting at the edge of 

 beds containing large growing Cannas, etc., or for contrasting with Coleus, Achryanthes, etc., 

 in ribbon lines and masses. They are easily grown, comparatively hardy, and few plants in our 

 collections are more satisfactory to the cultivator. 



C. Candida, a lovely plant of neat, compact, bushy growth, with exceedingly pretty silver- 

 colored foliage. C. Gymnocarpa, a variety with attractive cut foliage, of graceful semi-droop- 

 ing habit. It is one of the finest plants in cultivation for planting in the centre of hanging 

 baskets, vases, etc. , or for bedding out, being also more readily propagated then Candida. 



CENTRADENIA (Greenhouse Perennial, 35, 55, gf ). 



Beautiful, neat plants adapted only to window and conservatory culture in pots, or for plant- 

 ing in Ferneries, baskets, etc. They delight in light soil, considerably enriched with leaf mould 

 and manure. Are propagated from cuttings. 



C. Grandiftora, elegant narrow, green and crimson colored foliage, of changeable hue. C. 

 Rosa, small fine leaves, of pretty form and color. The plant is profusely covered with small 

 rose-colored flowers during a great portion of the year. 



CENTURY PLANT. See Agave. 



CEREUS GRANDIFLORUS NIGHT-BLOOMING CEREUS (Greenhouse Perennial, 15,50,95) 

 The flowers of this celebrated kind of Cactus, which open only at night time, are very large, 

 beautiful and sweet-scented. They begin to open about sundown, and are fully expanded by 

 eleven o'clock. The petals are white ; the coralla, or rather calyx, is from seven to ten inches 

 in diameter, the outside of which is a brown and the inside a fine straw yellow color. Its scent 

 perfumes the air to considerable distance. The plant is of thrifty habit, and is as easily grown 

 to flower in the house or conservatory as any Cactus, requiring treatment similar to that 

 described for this family. 



