78 
April, 1889. 
For bedding purposes, the Coleus enjoys 
a popularity to-day which seems rather on 
the increase than on the decline, despite the 
cry from time to time raised by the oppo- 
nents of that kind of decorative art, against 
what they are pleasd to term, a vulgar and 
incultivated taste, which 
prompts the use of such 
delicate, tropical. stiff and 
formal plants, arranged 
in also what they charac- 
terize as unnatural even 
ridiculous fashions. My 
object now, however, is 
not to champion this par- 
ticular form of decora- 
tive planting, which, I 
may just say in passing, 
strikes me £as no more 
formal, or at least unnat- 
ural than any other ar- 
rangement of ornamental 
plants of all kinds, gath- 
ered together from all 
climes, and grouped for 
effect, let them be annu- 
al, biennial or perennial. 
That the Coleus for 
bedding is very popular, 
is beyond a doubt: that 
it is scarcely less so than 
any other plant so em- 
ployed is evident from 
the large number to be 
seen in our public parks 
and private gardens. That 
it is so extensively used 
is sufficient evidence that 
that particular style of 
ornamental planting, the 
combination of plants of 
beautiful foliage, howev- 
er stiff in themselves, and 
however formal the ar- 
rangement may be, sat- 
isfies the popular taste. 
Suffice it to say, until a 
change in the love of 
plants takes place and 
until the present system 
of bedding is entirely revolutionized, which 
I imagine is not likely to happen soon, the 
Coleus, tender as it is, will be extensively 
grown, wherever the summer temperature 
renders its cultivation practicable. In lati- 
tudes too cold for the Coleus, gardeners de- 
plore the circumstance which deprive them 
of its use in the flower garden, even when 
that very circumstance is favorable to the 
culture of sundry flowering and foliage 
plants, which in regions favorable to the 
Coleus succeed very indifferently. What 
the gardener is continually in quest of is va- 
riety. He wishes variety in foliage, as well 
decided, and, besides, the habit of the plant 
is so good, neither tall nor yet dwarf. By 
generous culture it may be induced to grow 
quite tall, and by judicious pinching it may 
be kept comparatively dwarf. Moreover, 
although a tender plant, it is much less ten- 
der than any of its kind, the majority of 
which quickly suffer in cold weather. Could 
we but secure a variety light in color — yel- 
low being preferred — of a similar habit and 
constitution, we would, I am sure, all go into 
ecstasies. True, we have one or two 
varieties of no mean merit. John Goode, 
the latest to attract attention, is certainly 
very good, still I find 
there is room for im- 
provement. As I find it, 
it is not entirely reliable. 
Many of my plants last 
year lost the yellow hue 
entirely and became 
green. Neither did I find 
it very uniform in growth 
some plants growing 
much stronger than oth- 
ers. However I should 
not condemn it as I have 
only had one year’s ex- 
perience. Unquestiona- 
bly the best yellow yet 
introduced is Golden 
Bedder;but, unfortunate- 
ly, it is very tender, and, 
consequently, in our 
northern latitudes rather 
unreliable, nevertheless 
it is well worth growing, 
and taking the chances 
on a favorable season. If 
the summer is warm it 
generally pioves a suc- 
cess. No doubt it is very 
annoying to have an oth- 
erwise effec t i v e bed 
maired by breaks, caused 
by the failure of a par- 
ticular plant that much 
was expected of, and to 
\\ liich much prominence 
was given. Often we 
have thus been served by 
Golden Bedder; but by 
exercising some precau- 
tion. and should the 
weather prove ordinarily 
favorable, much of this 
trouble may be avoided. 
In the first place, only 
strong and healthy plants should be selected. 
Beds in sheltered places should be chosen 
for them when practicable; and planting 
should be delayed as long as possible, at 
least until the weather appears to be settled, 
and the cold, cutting winds, so prevalent in 
our climate, have ceased. Even with that 
care an occasional plant will either die or 
decline to grow, so that a gap is made, 
which in long lines in ribbon borders is very 
noticeable, and an eyesore. A good plan is 
to keep a number of plants in pots, keeping 
them growing actively, to serve as substi- 
tutes when necessary. To some it may 
COLKUS. Fig. 1280. 
with very few exceptions indeed, they eith- 
er succumb entirely, or their loveliness 
quickly changes into, in most cases, positive 
ugliness. Many years ago, that grand and 
good old standby, Verschaffeltii, was ob- 
tained from Blumei, a native of Java, but 
nothing has since been found in its own, or 
in fact in any other color, to equal it in its 
general characteristics. Darker ones have 
been introduced and tried, some even 
thought worthy, even praised, but at last 
either condemned or quietly allowed to drop 
out of sight, and Verschaffeltii continues to 
reign supreme. Its color is so rich and so 
as in flowers; and certainly in foliage there 
are no plants which produce more beautiful 
and striking effects than the Coleus. It may 
now be truly saidjhat the varieties of Co- 
leus are beyond number; yet after all. is it 
not singular that there should be so few 
adapted for garden adornment, or at least 
worthy of a place there. Within the past 
few years the ever diligent hybridizers have 
introduced a host of varieties, many of them 
very beautiful indeed, and certainly lovely 
ornaments for the conservatory; but, alas, 
when exposed to the sun’s burning rays, or 
the whipping, sometimes chilling winds, 
