ALTERNANTHERAS 483 



ground shaded with olive-green. The var. magnijica similar to the 

 type, but with the leaves more strongly and brightly coloured. The var. 

 Tnajor has bronze leaves with rich orange tips. The var. major aurea 

 has the foliage permanently coloured a fine golden yellow. 



T. VERSICOLOR (various colours). This is a larger species, the stems 

 as much as a foot high, with many branches. The leaves are oval, 

 streaked with dark coppery red and bright pink, shaded with green 

 and bronze. Plate 231b. The var. grand is is larger and of stronger 

 habit. 



Speaking generally, the treatment of Telanthera should 

 similar to that prescribed for Iresine. They may be 

 grown in pots for greenhouse or conservatory decoration, but are chiefly 

 used for bedding purposes, and consequently propagated on an extensive 

 scale. For growth, then, as pot - plants we refer the reader back to 

 Coleus, whilst we devote our space to the methods for raising 

 Telantheras in quantity. Let it be understood that, as in the case of the 

 richly-coloured foliage plants, an essential condition of obtaining fine 

 colour is the supply of abundant light and sufficient heat to develop it, 

 otherwise ordinary greens will take the place of the yellows and 

 crimsons. As suggested in the case of Iresines, robust and sturdy plants 

 should be prepared about August, and kept dry through the winter to 

 provide the requisite number of shoots when started into active growth 

 in spring. At the beginning of April a hot-bed should be made up of 

 leaves and stable-manure that will give a temperature of a little over 80° 

 for several weeks, and keep the cuttings just under the glass. The hot- 

 bed should be covered — when the first extreme heat has subsided to about 

 85° — with a compost of sandy loam and rotted manure in equal portions, 

 and upon this a thin layer of silver-sand. The whole is now pressed 

 down with boards until it is moderately firm and level. Now put in the 

 cuttings one inch apart, cover with the lights, and over these put mats or 

 boards to keep off the sun until the first roots are thrown out. During 

 this time — only a few days — the close, moist heat must be kept in, but 

 afterwards the shading may be gradually withdrawn until full 

 sunlight falls upon them, and ventilation is as gradually increased until, 

 midway in June, when the outside temperature will be equal to that of 

 the frame, the young plants should be sturdy, of good colour, and 

 sufficiently hardened for planting out in sheltered sunny beds. The frame- 

 bed should be broken carefully, and the plants, each with its roots and 

 soil intact, placed in wooden trays, and taken off to the beds as required. 

 With ordinary care this operation may be performed — if an overcast day 

 is chosen — without the plants showing th« least sign of flagging. If 



