CENTAUREA. 



101 



CHERRY. 



are raised from seed sown on a hotbed or 

 over gentle bottom heat in March ; it is 

 better to re-pot them frequently before 

 finally transferring them to their blooming 

 quarters in larger pots. The coxcomb of 

 the florists is Celosia Crist ata, remarkable 

 for its large deep crimson blossom, which 

 appears on the top and sides of the broad 

 expansion into which the stem extends at 

 the top. 



Centau'rea (not. ord. JUtera'cea). 



Hardy annuals and biennials raised from 

 seeds in any good garden soil. Biennials 

 should be sown in March, and the annuals 

 in April. The best known are Centaur ea 

 cyanus, whose baautiful blue blossom is 

 known as the Bluebottle, Bluet, or Corn- 

 flower, and C. depressa, which has a blue 

 flower with a brownish-red centre. 



Ce'rasus. 



In the Cerasus tribe are included the 

 common laurel, Cerasus laurocerasus, and 

 C. Lusitanica, the Portugal laurel, both 

 of which are too valuable for ornamental 

 planting to be passed by. Laurus nobilis, 

 the common bay, is useful as well as 

 ornamental ; but this belongs really to 

 the genus Laurus, which contains, besides 

 the variety now under notice, only one 

 other, namely, Laurus Benzoin , also 

 known as Lindera Benzoin, the Benjamin 

 Shrub, or Spice Bush. 



(nat. ord. Palmse). 

 The Chamaerops, or Fan Palm, is a 

 splendid plant of oriental appearance, pro- 

 ducing a striking effect if planted out in 

 lawns or pleasure-grounds. It is also valu- 

 able for conservatory decoration ; succeeds 

 best in rich loamy soil. It requires protec- 

 tion during the winter. It is propagated 

 by suckers from the parent plant, or by 

 seeds. 



CHAM^ROPS, OR FAN PALM. 



Chelo'ne (nat. ord. Scrophularia'cese). 

 A beautiful hardy herbaceous plant, with 

 showy pentstemon-like flowers, very effec- 

 tive in centres of beds, or groups in mixed 

 borders ; thrives in any rich soil. Propa- 

 gated by division of the roots in August and 

 September. 



Cherry (Ceratus). 



The chief varieties of the cherry are the 

 Kentish, Duke, and Morello, and from 

 these it is supposed that all others have 

 originated. The first named and those de- 

 rived from it are the best for cooking pur- 

 poses ; the Duke, and the sorts obtained 

 from it, for eating ; and the Morello for 

 preserving and making cherry brandy, for 

 which purpose the Kentish is also used. 



Propagation and 7^raining. The cherry 

 is propagated by budding on stocks usually 

 obtained from the stones of the wild black 

 cherry, or in the case of standards by graft- 

 ing on stocks of the wild cherry. Trees for 

 training on walls are generally worked on 

 the St. Lucie plum. Its treatment, like 

 that of the plum, is precisely the same as 

 that laid down for the training of the pear. 

 (See Pruning generally). It may be grown 

 in any form. 



Soil, &c. The soil best suited for tkyj 

 cherry is a rich deep loam, well 



