CHAP. IV. ORNAMENTAL ANNUALS. 299 



crimson entirely, as well as are the flowers and upright plume- 

 like branches. Sow the seed in July. 



4. A. salicifolius. A new and very beautiful species, three 

 feet high, in the form of a plume, with long narrow weeping 

 leaves, shaded bright orange-red. 



Celosia. 



C. cristata COCKSCOMB MoorgJia Gool-Kesh. Five or six 

 varieties of this very handsome annual are met with in the 

 gardens of India. The seed of each should be sown in July, 

 and the plants will be in full beauty of bloom in December. 

 They love a rich soil, and if grown in pots frequent shifting is 

 recommended. 



Variety a is about two feet and a half high, and bears nume- 

 rous heads of bloom, resembling so many golden sponges. 



Variety /3 differs from the last in having its heads of flowers 

 bright crimson. 



Variety 7 differs from ft in having leaves as well as flower- 

 heads of bright crimson. 



Variety 8. A dwarf variety, about a foot high, having very 

 large sponge-like heads of tawny, orange-coloured flowers. A 

 very curious and interesting plant. 



Variety e. A variety in the Calcutta Botanical Gardens 

 from Burmah, differing little from variety a. 



PEKIGYNOUS EXOGENS. 



MESEMBKYACE^E. 

 Mesembryanthemum. 



FIG-MAKYGOLD. 



Dwarf succulent plants, M. tricolor, bear somewhat small 

 daisy-formed crimson and white flowers of dazzling beauty, which 

 open only in full sunshine; cordifolium pink, and pomeridianum 

 large brilliant yellow flowers. Sow the seed in October in wide 

 shallow pans filled with good soil below, but very sandy just on 

 the surface. A pane of glass laid on the pan will tend to keep 

 the soil moist till the seeds germinate. 



