AM ARAN THUS, Nat. Ord. Amarantacece. 
The Amaranthus embraces a large class of plants, and some of them so diversified in 
character that, to the casual observer, they hardly seem to belong to the same family. They 
are mainly, how^ever, valuable for their ornamental foliage, the leaves of 
most varieties being highly colored, M^hile in some the form as well as 
color is desirable. The present popularity of ornamental leaved plants 
for bedding out renders this class more than usually interesting. 
The great difference of habit makes it necessary to give engravings of the 
varieties, shoM^ing the more marked distinctions. The drooping flower 
shows A. caudatMS, sometimes called Love Lies Bleeding, a rather coarse 
plant, yet graceful and excellent for autumn decoration, with racemes of 
flowers sometimes two to three feet in leiigth. Another variety. Prince's 
Feather, has flowers nearly similar, but arranged in erect spikes. The 
smallest engraving represents bi- 
color, tricolor and several other 
sorts of about the same 
habit, though differing 
in color. The large 
engraving gives a very 
good representation of 
salicifolius, or the 
Fountain Plant, a free 
growing plant that 
sometimes reaches a 
height of five feet or 
more, and is a very 
pretty object in a suit- 
able position. The i 
Amaranthus are half- 
hardy plants, and use- 
ful in many situations, as the back-ground of a flower bed, a bed on the lawn, or as an orna- 
mental hedge. In a rich soil, where plants make a vigorous growth, the varieties with bright 
colors sometimes become dull. It is unfortunate that we cannot always rely on the color, no- 
matter how fine the plants from which the seeds are derived, but success is most assured in a 
warm, dry season, and in a light or rather poor soil. The Amaranthus is a native of the East 
Indies, but has been in cultivation in Europe since the days of Queen Elizabeth, and in 
America since its first settlement. The name is a favorite with poets, and means never-wither 
ing. The leaves of the species of Amaranthus are wholesome food, and many varieties are eaten; 
in their native countries, like Spinach. 
ANAGALLIS, Nat. Ord. Primulacece. 
The genus Anagaliis is remarkable for- the beauty of its flowers, for even our wild scarlet 
Pimpernel, or Poor Man's Weather Glass, is one of the prettiest of our small wild flowers. The 
improved garden varieties are very desirable for small beds, edgings^, 
baskets, &c. The plants usually do not exceed six inches in height,, 
and when set in a bed thickly, cover the ground with a constant 
profusion of rich flowers. The Anagaliis has representatives among, 
the wild flowers of a large portion of the world, 
from some of which importations have been 
made to America and Europe, and the hybrids 
obtained by our florists exhibit great improve- 
ment. Sow under glass, if possible, and set 
the plants not more than six inches apart. 
The Anagaliis is one of those honest, every- 
day flowers that, while it will not astonish any one, cannot fail to meet the anticipations of every 
lover of flowers. 
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