THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
237 
it may be had in perfection with a moderate amount of care. It is 
most valuable for those who have no convenience for keeping tender 
plants through winter. When it is desired to keep it down, the 
pinching must be commenced as soon as the plants are established 
in the beds. 
The Coleus are most useful, but they must liave a moderately- 
warm position. To obtain a stock for next season, the best course 
is to reserve a few plants of the several kinds which have been grown 
in pots during the summer. They require a stove temperature 
during the winter, and to be kept rather dry at the roots. In the 
spring they can be propagated to any extent. After they are 
potted off allow them to remain in the stove until established, and 
place near the glass to insure a short jointed growth. Plants 
raised from cuttings struck now may also be wintered most success- 
fully. The best sorts are C. Verschqfelti, dark chocolate, and 
C. Verschqfelti splendens, bright crimson. 
The dark -leaved Iresine Lindeni is well-deserving the attention 
of those who have not the convenience for wintering coleus, as it 
does well in the greenhouse. The cuttings should be struck in the 
autumn and potted off early in the spring. As it is naturally of 
upright growth, stop the leading shoots once or twice when the 
plants are in the pots, and commence stopping at an early stage 
after they are planted out if it is desired to keep them dwarf. Plant 
about six inches apart in the beds. 
The Perilla is too coarse for carpet-beds, and all the other 
dark -foliage plants, such as the Ajuga and Oxalis, are comparatively 
worthless, so that it is of no use to say anything about them. 
Silvery-leaved Plants. — -Several of the plants belonging to 
this section are quite hardy, and therefore within the reach of the 
humblest amateur. The dwarf Antennaria tomentosa is very useful 
for front lines, as it forms a dense carpet of silver not exceeding two 
inches in height. To propagate a stock it is simply necessary to 
divide clumps into small tufts and plant where required ; it must 
not be allowed to suffer from drought when newly planted or it will 
perish. It also thrives most satisfactorily in light, friable soil, as 
the tender roots which push from the young growth can strike more 
readily into it. 
The well-known Cerasiiuni tomentosum still remains one of the 
best plants of its class for edging purposes, as it can be kept to any 
width with but little trouble. To have it in good condition it must, 
although quite hardy, be replanted annually. Cuttings struck now 
ill boxes and wintered in a cold frame will make capital edgings 
next year, and quite surpass in neatness edgings formed of old 
plants taken up in the spring and divided. 
Centaureas are useful for large beds, and may be raised from 
seed sown now, or by cuttings ; the former will be the best plan for 
amateurs, as the cuttings do not strike very freely. It is simply 
necessary to sow the seed in shallow pans, and place them in a cold 
Irame. When large enough put them in small pots. They can be 
wintered in a cold frame, or in the greenhouses. C. ragusina com- 
pacta and C. argentea plumosa are the twm best for carpet-bedding. 
August. 
