AMARANTH US, Nat. Ord. Amarantacece. 



The Amaranthus embraces a large class of plants, and some of them so diversified ir> 

 character that, to the casual observer, they hardly seem to belong to the same family. They 

 are mainly, however, valuable for their ornamental foliage, the leaves of 

 most varieties being highly colored, while in some the form as well as 

 color is desirable. The present popularity of ornamental leaved plants 

 for bedding out renders this class more than usually interesting. 

 The great difference of habit makes it necessary to give engravings of the 

 varieties, showing the more marked distinctions. The drooping flower 

 shows A. caudatus, sometimes called Love Lies Bleeding, a rather coarse 

 plant, yet graceful and excellent for autumn decoration, with racemes of 

 flowers sometimes two to three feet in length. Another variety, Prince's 

 Feather, has flowers nearly similar, but arranged in erect spikes. The 

 smallest engraving represents bi- 

 color, tricolor and several other 

 sorts of about the same 

 habit, though differing 

 in color. The large 

 engraving gives a very 

 good representation of 

 salicifolius, or the 

 Fountain Plant, a free 

 growing plant that 

 sometimes reaches a 

 height of five feet or 

 more, and is a very 

 pretty object in a suit- 

 able position. The ( 

 Amaranthus are half- 

 hardy plants, and use- 

 ful in many situations, as the back -ground of a flower bed, a bed on the lawn, or as an orna- 

 mental hedge. In a rich soil, where plants make a vigorous growth, the varieties with bright 

 colors sometimes become dull. It is unfortunate that we cannot always rely on the color, no 

 matter how fine the plants from which the seeds are derived, but success is most assured in a 

 warm, dry season, and in a light or rather poor soil. The Amaranthus is a native of the East 

 Indies, but has been in cultivation in Europe since the days of Queen ELIZABETH, and in 

 America since its first settlement. The name is a favorite with poets, and means never-wither 

 ing. The leaves of the species of Amaranthus are wholesome food, and many varieties are eaten, 

 in their native countries, like Spinach. 



ANAGALLIS, Nat. Ord*. Primulacece. 



The genus Anagallis is remarkable for the beauty of its flowers, for even our wild scarlet 

 Pimpernel, or Poor Man's Weather Glass, is one of the prettiest of our small wild flowers. The 

 improved garden varieties are very desirable for small beds, edgings, 

 baskets, &c. The plants usually do not exceed six inches in height, 

 and when set in a bed thickly, cover the ground with a constant 

 profusion of rich flowers. The Anagallis has representatives among 

 the wild flowers of a large portion of the world, 

 from some of which importations have been 

 made to America and Europe, and the hybrids 

 obtained by our florists exhibit great improve- 

 ment. Sow under glass, if possible, and set 

 the plants not more than six inches apart. 

 The Anagallis is one of those honest, every- 

 day flowers that, while it will not astonish any one, cannot fail to meet the anticipations of every 

 lover of flowers. 



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