128 THE FRUIT-TREE AND SHRUB FRUNER. 



back old worn-out parts that have done flowering to 

 make room for the new ones. This will be necessary 

 in order to maintain a sufficiently thin plant, so that the 

 parts may thoroughly ripen, and to make room for the 

 proper development of the flowers. 



The Coleus. 



I need not give any long description with reference 

 to the Coleus, as every one must be acquainted with its 

 handsome appearance and its fine foliage. Neverthe- 

 less, it is useless for any one to attempt to grow these 

 plants through the winter if they cannot place them in 

 a warm glasshouse, where a heat may be maintained 

 at 65° or from that to 70° Fahr. They are remark- 

 ably handsome bedding plants, and there is nothing to 

 excel the various kinds of the Coleus as fine pot plants 

 for the conservatory or for table decoration. They will 

 grow with ease to large specimens in the course of one 

 season. One precaution is, however, very necessary, 

 and that is, for those who may happen to begin to grow 

 them, and who wish to obtain handsome plants, to 

 commence nipping out the points of every lateral 

 springing from the main leader as soon as they have 

 grown four inches long, or have made two leaflets, re- 

 serving the second leaflet. These will then each give 

 a sublateral, and these again must be stopped, and 

 continue to do so until a w^ell-developed plant is 

 formed. Old plants may be cut back severely, and 

 subjected to a good heat, when they will form extra 

 fine specimens. 



The Petunia. 



The conspicuous and beautiful double and variegated 

 flowers in this class render it a general favourite. The 

 Petunia has of late years gained a reputation which it 

 is not likely to lose, and as a pot plant it stands re- 

 markably well. 



While the plants are young particular attention 

 must be paid to the nipping out of the points of every 



