CELOSIA, Nat. Ord. Amai^antacea: . 
The Celosias are interesting and singular annuals, and when well grown, from seed of good 
In Europe they 
decorations, but 
rround that this 
quality, never fail to please the grower and attract the attention of his friends. 
are grown in pots for floral exhibitions and also for table 
in most parts of America they gro-y so freely in the open 
treatment is not necessary to form most superb 
plants, though for exhibition purposes extra 
good plants in pots would be very convenient 
and useful. There are two desirable forms of 
the Celosia, the Cockscomb and the Feathery, 
the former being the most curious and far 
the most popular. When true, the latter 
fonns a featheiy head that is very pretty, but it 
is not always reliable, and we have discarded 
all but one or two varieties of this form that 
usually come good and true. Of the old- 
fashioned Cockscomb, represented by the 
small engraving in the center, seed can now be 
obtained of excellent quality, that with good culture, in a rich soil, will 
give heads from six inches to a foot across, and some who read this article 
will, no doubt, be ready to say they have grown them nearly twice this 
size, for in the rich soils of the West, and with comparatively good culture, they make combs of 
wonderful size. Four years ago we obtained a new Cockscomb from Japan, which we named the 
Vick's Japan Cockscomb, and which far excels every other variety in the brilliance of its color and 
the beauty of its 
comb. We kept it 
on our own grounds 
on trial for two 
years, and was so 
charmed with its 
great beauty as well 
as its distinctness of 
character that in 
1873 we offered the 
seed for sale. It 
not only sustains its 
original character, 
but seems to like the 
Amercan climate 
and soil. Last sum- 
mer it was more bril- 
liant than ever be- 
fore. The usual form 
of the plant is shown 
left, while the cut on the right exhibits the usual form of the combs, 
ruffled like the most delicate lace. In many specimens the comb is 
m the first engraving at the 
with a bright scarlet edging 
so nicely cut as to resemble the finest coral both in form and color, and this appearance we have 
endeavored to show in the lower engraving at the right. Some of the side branches also assume 
this square instead ol the comb form. Oc- 
casionally a plant has the form of the lower 
engraving at the left, being a mass of combs 
with scarcely a leaf. The branches from the 
roots to the smallest leaf-veins are scarlet or 
crimson. It flowers earlier than the old vari- 
eties and keeps in bloom until frost. The 
seed germinates readily in the hot-bed, and 
will bear plenty of bottom heat, but needs 
abundance of air. The form of the feathered 
Celosia is shown by a drawing of a branch, 
found at the right of the central engraving- 
A spike of Celosia spicata rosea may also be 
seen at the left. These spikes are pinkish, three or four inches long, 
and nearly an inch in diameter, and maybe cut and dried like an Everlasting, retaining both form 
and color nearly as well as the Helichrysums. This flower is known in some locations as the 
Lady's Finger. 
67 
