Commelina 



( 233 ) 



Composts 



places. A variegated form is cultivated in 

 gardens, as are tlie Bohemian Comfrey (bohemi- 

 cuin), Caucasian Comfrey (caucasicum), and the 

 Roughest Comfrey (aBperrinmm). The plants are 

 all too coarse-growing for the culinary bed or 

 border, but make admirable subjects for natural- 

 ising in wild spots, or out of the way corners. 

 Comfrey is used for feeding stock. 



cyanea, Jy., st. trailer, bl. 

 deficiens, 1', St., bl. 

 dianthifolia, Jy., st. cl., 



erecta, :)', Jy., hdy., bl. 



fasciculate, 1', Jy., hlf- 

 hdy., hi. (f I/US, glabra 

 and gracilis of liuiunirul 

 Mni/iiziiie, 3047). 



hirtel'la, 1', Je., lidy.,bl. 



uudiflora, 4' to 6', Aug., 

 st. trailer, bl. (tynt. 

 gracilis [of Ruiz e t 

 Pavou], deficiens [of 

 Flore des Serres, t. 

 1824], and caroliniana 

 [Flora Caroliniana]). 



obliqua, Je., st. trailer, bL 



scahra, 1', Jy., pur. br. 



tuberosa (see coBlestis). 



COMBEETUM COCUXEUM 

 (see f. 232). 



COMMELINA. 



Pretty, hardy greenhouse or stove perennial plants 

 (ord. Commelinacea;), of herbaceous or evergreen 

 They resemble in general appearance the 



habit. 



Tradescantias, but have only three perfect stamens, 

 instead of six. In mild localities coelestis is hardy 

 in dry soil, but in others it must be stored in sand in 

 winter. Propagated by seeds of the annual and per- 

 ennial hardy species, by division of the roots of the 

 latter, and by cuttings of the greenhouse and stove 

 species in a hotbed or frame with bottom heat. Soil, 

 light, rich loam improved with manure or leaf soil. 

 The greenhouse species thrive in an ordinary cool 

 temperature, the stove plants requiring a minimum 

 of about 40. 



Principal Species : 



crelestis, ir.Je., Jy.,lilf- 

 hdy..bl. (Iqm.taberom). 

 Very showy in a mass. 

 Var. alba is pretty. 



Other Species : 



africana, My., grh. trailer, 



yel. (*v/. lutea). 

 benghalensis, Je., 



st. 



elliptica, 2', Jy., grh., wh. 



Xc.-.t. 



virgiuicu, 1', Jy., quite 

 hdy., bl. (.'/. cari- 

 ] nsis). 



trailer, bl. ^.s//>/.v. pros- 

 trata and cucullata). 

 commuuis,Je.,st.trailer,bl. 



COMMERSONIA. 



Trees or shrubs (ord. Sterculiaceai) with small 

 flowers. Propagated by cuttings in a propagating 

 case, or under a bell-glass in 

 heat. Soil, good fibrous loam, 

 with sufficient sand to ensure 

 porosity. The protection of a 

 warm greenhouse is necessary. 

 Principal Species : 



dasyphylla (weRuIingia pannosa). 

 Fraseri, grh. 



platyphylla, Je., st., wh. (HUH. 

 echiuata). 



COMOCLADIA. 



Stove trees(w<2. Anacardiacese) 

 with a glutinous juice, turning 

 black. Leaves pinnate, leathery, 

 evergreen. Flowers in clusters, 

 small. Propagated by cuttings of young shoots 

 getting firm at the base, and inserted in sand in 

 a propagating ease. Fibrous loam with a little 

 peat and plenty of sharp sand. 



Principal Species : 



dentata, 30'. Jy., red. integrifolia, 15', red. 



ilicifolia, 16', red. 



COMPARETTIA. 



Kpiphytal stove Orchids (ord. Orchidacesfi) 

 with white, pink, or scarlet flowers. Propagation 

 is by division of the pieces and by offsets. Soil, 

 fibrous peat and chopped sphagnum in equal parts, 

 with good drainage and plenty of crocks mixed 

 with the compost. Keep the plants well above the 

 surface of the pots or baskets. Winter tempera- 

 ture, 50 to 55; summer, 60 to 80. 



Principal Species : 

 coccinea, 1', Aug., sc. rosea. 



cryptoeera, 1', pk., cr. macroplectron, 1', Oct., 



falcata, 6", My., ro. (fee wh., ro. spot. 



P- - ;!1 )- speeiosa, 1', ochre, or. 



COMPOSTS. 



Composts fall naturally into three broad groups 

 (1) those suitable for soft-wooded plants, (2) for 

 hard-wooded, and (;i) for Orchidaceous and epiphy- 

 tal plants generally. For soft-wooded plants a 

 sound loam, containing a goodly proportion of sand, 

 plenty of fibre, and of the sort known as yellow or 

 hazel loam, should form the basis of all composts. 

 This should be, where possible, the top spit of a 

 common ; or pasture land that has been laid down 

 a number of years, and preferably grazed rather 

 than mown. It should be duar during dry weather 

 and stored in ;i square or oblong heap, grass >i<le 

 downwards, adding, in the ease of poor quality 

 loam, a layer of eow manure alternately with 

 one of turves. In about twelve months' time 

 this will form a splendid rooting medium for all 

 kinds of soft-wooded plums, an addition of leaf 

 mould (prepared by stacking leaves of Oak or Beech 

 for at least twelve months), sharp sand, and dried 



Common Swift Moth {see Moths). 



