BEDDING, VASE AND WINDOW BOX PLANTS 283 



leaves have a whitish appearance. Two common species, Senecio 

 (Centaurea) candidissima and S. maritima, are much grown. 



Propagation. The most reliable method of propagation is 

 from seed, which should be sown in Autumn. Cuttings may also 

 be taken, avoiding those which are very robust. Give them treat- 

 ment similar to that recommended for Gazanias. (See page 228.) 



CODI^UM (Croton). (See also page 100 for indoor culture.) 

 It is only within recent years that these plants have been used to 

 any extent in the open ground. They succeed well, putting on 

 colors much superior to what we usually see indoors. Some of the 

 higher colored varieties are unsuited for this work, as they need a 

 high temperature at night as well as during the day. The following 

 are the kinds which have been found reliable: C. Lady Zetland, C. 

 pictum, C. aucubafolium, C. chrysophyllum (one of the most satis- 

 factory), C. mullicolor, C. interruptum, C. Veitchii and C. Weismanni. 

 As these may be grown successfully from 10 to 15 degrees cooler 

 thanC. Reidii, C. Challenger and others of that section, they should 

 be given a trial even in the Northern States. 



Propagation and Culture. The principal batch of cuttings 

 for bedding plants is taken beginning of September. If there is no 

 bottom heat by that time they will root splendidly in a close propa- 

 gating frame. With bottom heat they root in the open bed, and 

 the cuttings may be quite large. Allow quite a quantity of roots 

 to form before potting. A minimum temperature of 60 degrees 

 will be found sufficient during Winter for the above varieties. Be- 

 fore putting them in the ground they must be very gradually har- 

 dened off, otherwise they are apt to lose the lower leaves. Old 

 plants in pots should be given a top dressing of bonemeal and 

 plunged out of doors, to furnish cuttings. 



COLEUS. Owing to the ease of producing young plants by 

 slips, their rapid growth and very ornamental foliage, when 

 planted out, the very numerous kinds will continue to be popular 

 bedding plants. In Winter young plants should not be subjected 

 to a lower temperature than 55 degrees. 



Propagation. From a few plants grown from cuttings, put in 

 during the beginning of September, a large quantity of young 

 plants may be raised in Spring. In this latitude we have little use 

 for hotbeds. In other locahties, where the nights are colder during 

 April and the first half of May, the hotbed is an indispensable ad- 

 junct to'the greenhouse for developing plants such as Coleus from 

 late rooted cuttings. 



