48o FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 



portions of rich sandy loam and well-rotted manure (cow and stable 

 mixed), to which sufficient silver-sand should be added to make it fairly 

 open. Now prepare a hot-bed, with a top layer of eocoanut-fibre refuse 

 of sufficient depth to take the pots up to their rims, and bring the plants 

 close to the glass. In this the pots should be plunged, and now again 

 water must be given sparingly, though air should be admitted more 

 freely. If large plants are desired, they should be shifted to seven-inch 

 pots, and potted firmly. When these are well filled with roots, give liquid 

 manure twice a week. Some of the species will require more frequent 

 shifting than above, according to size and habit. Gelosias are very 

 liable to the attacks of red-spider and thrips ; frequent syringing is the 

 best method of keeping these in check. C. pyramidalis is used for 

 summer-bedding, the plants being gi-own in pots till June, when they 

 are planted in a sunny bed or border outside. 

 Description of Celosia cHstata, the Common Cockscomb ; upper part 



Plate 339. of fasciated stem (var. fasciata) with flower-heads, natural 

 size. Fig. 1, unexpanded flower, surrounded by coloured bracts ; 2, ex- 

 panded flower ; 3, section of Fig. 2 ; 4, seed, natural size and enlarged ; 

 5, seedling. 



lEESINES 



Natural Order Amarantace^. Genus Iresine 



Iresine (Greek, eiros, wool, or eiresione, olive branches bound with wool ; 

 in allusion to the woolly appearance of the stems). A genus of about 

 eighteen species of erect herbs and sub-shrubs, with stalked, opposite 

 leaves, and inconspicuous white or greenish flowers, each with three 

 bracts, as in the preceding genera. The perianth consists of five segments ; 

 there are five stamens, and the fruit is a one-seeded utricle like that of 

 Amarantus, but not splitting open. The inflorescence is a loose panicle, 

 a dense head, or a spike. The species are natives of the warmer parts of 

 America and Australia. 



Iresine Formosa (beautiful). Believed to be a sport 

 ' from I. Lindenii, and useful alike for bedding or for 

 conservatory and table decoration. Leaves golden, veined with crimson 

 and pencilled with green. Introduced 1883. 



I. Herbstii (Herbst's). Stem bright carmine, 12 to 18 inches high. 

 Leaves somewhat heart-shaped, upper surface deep crimson or maroon, 

 the midrib and larger veins margined with a lighter tint ; under-side deep 



