CKLASTKUS. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



CENTAUREA. 



485 



wired for seven years, as rabbits destroy 

 them more than any other tree of the 

 pine tribe. W. R. 



CELASTRUS (Staff Vine). C. 

 scandens is a shrubby climber from North 

 America, flourishing- in any ordinary 

 garden soil, and valuable for its rapid 

 twining growth, which is excellent for 

 trailing over trellis-work and arbours, or 

 on a bank, or to run over other shrubs and 

 trees to a height of 12 or 15 ft. The 

 flowers are inconspicuous, and the fruits 

 orange-red, like those of the Spindle 

 Tree, to which order it belongs. 



CELOSIA (Cocks-comb}. Indian an- 

 nuals of the Amaranth family, gener- 

 ally too tender for the open air, though 

 we have occasionally seen them used 

 with effect in bold groups. For this 

 purpose they should be sown in pans 

 in March, and kept near the glass to 

 prevent the seedlings being drawn, and 

 as soon as they are large enough to handle 

 they should be pricked off into small pots 

 and grown on fast in gentle heat until 

 the crowns are formed. Planted out in 

 June in rich soil, and liberally watered, 

 they continue in good condition for a long 

 time. 



CELSIA (Cretan Mullein}. C. cretica 

 is a pretty plant, allied to the mulleins, with 

 rich yellow flowers and polished buds ; 

 may be treated as an annual. Well grown 

 in good soil, it is distinct and effective. 

 Candia, N. Africa. 



CELTIS (Nettle tree}. Trees of the 

 Elm order, natives of temperate countries, 

 much mentioned in books, and introduced 

 to Britain many years, but which have 

 never made much way with us, and are 

 less attractive to planters than other trees 

 of the same order. Among a crowd of 

 synonyms, the following are the names : 

 C. australis, caucasica, glabrata, japonica, 

 mississipiensis, occidentalis, and Totirne- 

 fortii. Some of the kinds are tropical, 

 and not hardy in our country. 



CENTAUEEA (Knapweed). Peren- 

 nial or annual herbs inhabiting Southern 

 and Middle Europe, some being good 

 garden plants, most of them hardy. Some 

 of the southern species require the green- 

 house in winter, but, making free growth 

 out-of-doors in summer, are freely used 

 for their silvery foliage. 



C. argentea has elegant silvery Fern- 

 like leaves, and when planted out or 

 plunged in pots has a good effect ; for 

 bedding it must be plunged and partly 

 starved to bring out its whiteness. 



C. babylonica. A distinct perennial, 

 tall and with silvery leaves, hardy, and 

 when in good ground its strong shoots 



with yellow flowers reach a height of 

 10 or 12 ft. The bloom, which continues 

 from July to September, is less attractive 

 than the leaves, but the plant is at all 

 times picturesque. A free sandy loam 

 suits it best. Seed. Levant. 

 C. Clementei. A silver-gray-leaved 



Celsia cretica (Cretan Mullein). 



plant of fine form. Small plants from 

 seed are useful for edging bold beds, and 

 when too large for that purpose they may 

 be transferred to borders, or planted out 

 singly on Grass. The blossoms are best 

 picked off, as they detract from the beauty 

 of the plant. 

 C. Cyanus (Blue Cornflower).- A. 



