4 



COSMOS DIVERSIFOLIUS. 



flower-garden. It is a free flowerer, commencing in June, and continuing until 

 destroyed by the frost. It grows to the height of about three feet, is much 

 branched, each branch bearing a flower at the apex. Its* petals are eight in 

 number, about two inches in length, of a rose, or rather lilac colour. The 

 involucrum contains about as many leaflets as there are petals. The root is 

 tuberous, much resembling that of the dahlia. It is not more hardy than the 

 dahlia, and therefore the roots should be taken up in the autumn, and stowed 

 in a very dry cellar, or some other dry place, protected from the frost, or put 

 into light soil, and placed in the greenhouse during the winter, keeping the 

 mould rather dry. It may be increased readily in the spring, either by cuttings 

 of the young shoots subjected to heat, or by dividing the roots, as practised with 

 dahlias, and potting them into small pots, with a mixture of peat and loam. 

 They should be kept in the houses or frames ready for planting out into the open 

 ground in May, for which any common garden soil will be sufficient. 



Cosmos is derived from Koa-fios (cosmos) beautiful ; diversifolius has reference 

 to the variable shape of the leaves, some being entire, others divided. 



Fig. 1, a tubular floret, cut open to show the anthers ; 2, the same, showing 

 the exserted stigmas ; 3, achenium, with style and stigmas, and two barbed awns. 



