AMARANTHUS. 43 



plant, like A. tricolor, is not well adapted for a bouqeut , its 

 chief culture being intended for their ornamental appear- 

 ance and their singularity ; the latter is very showy in a 

 large garden, the gorgeous appearance of the leaves are ve- 

 ry strikingly showy to the eye. The leaves of this plant 

 being variegated is the origin of its name tricolor, and when 

 in perfection and the sun shining on them, are extremely 

 dazzling. Round the stem are tufts adhering containing 

 the seed. These and most of the species are natives of the 

 Indies. To grow them well the soil should be light and 

 rich ; if raised in the hot-bed great care should be taken to 

 protect them from early frost, as all those varieties are ten- 

 der. A. globosi is another beautiful variety, extremely or- 

 namental and more cultivated than the above named varie- 

 ty, and is well known as the "Bachelor's Buttons" If 

 these flowers are gathered before ripe, or the frost nips them, 

 Ihey retain their primitive color all the winter. Of the 

 Globe we have two varieties, white and purple, the latter 

 more showy. There arc others, also, considered ornamen- 

 tal, but it would be useless to go into particulars of their de- 

 scription as the family are numerous ; they generally flower 

 until killed by the frost. The Amaranthus is one of the 

 oldest flowers in cultivation, as we find them in much es- 

 teem by the ancients. The Thessalians decorated their 

 heads with crowns made of the Amaranthus at the obse- 

 quies of Achilles. Milton has been lavishing in praise of 

 their beauty in his description of heaven. Pope, and many 

 other poets also sung in praise of the richness appertaining 

 to their beauty. 



