TENDER BORDER AND BEDDING PLANTS. 335 
pretty. Heliotropes may be reared from seed sown early in 
spring to flower in summer. But to get good uniform plants 
of named varieties cuttings should be inserted in heat in 
spring or in summer. A few old plants may be lifted in 
autumn, potted and kept in heat to furnish cuttings in spring. 
Care must be taken not to over water in winter. In spring 
place the rooted cuttings in 3 or 4*in. pots according to size, 
harden off in cold frames in May and plant out in June. 
Dwarf plants should be placed a foot apart. 
Humea, — H. elegans, the only species worth growing, 
is a half-hardy biennial, growing 5 to 6ft. high, with large 
odoriferous leaves and amaranth-brown flowers borne in 
feathery panicles. Is a native of Australia and belongs to the 
Daisy order (Compositae). This handsome and graceful plant 
is employed with other noble sub-tropical plants for summer 
bedding. It is not an easy plant to grow. Seed should be 
sown in light, sandy soil in a pan covered with and placed 
in a cold frame in July. When the seedlings appear transplant 
them singly into small pots filled with a compost of two parts 
loam and one of equal parts of fine charcoal, dried cow 
manure and sand. Keep in the frame till September, then 
remove to a heated greenhouse. Transfer into larger pots 
in due course, keep the roots slightly on the dry side, and in 
March place in 8 or ioin. pots, harden off in May, and plant 
out in June. 
Impatiens (Balsam). — Three species of this genus are 
grown for flower garden decoration, and all belong to the 
Geranium order (Geraniaceae). One of them, I. Roylei, bearing 
rosy blossoms, and growing 4 to 5ft. high, is almost a weed in 
gardens, reproducing itself freely from seed. It is only suitable 
for growing in shady spots in rough corners. The best species 
of all, however, is I. Balsamina, a tender annual much grown 
under glass and frequently in beds outdoors in summer. Seeds of 
this have to be sown in heat in March, the seedlings grown 
on till the end of May, then planted out in good rich soil. 
The plants grow a foot or so high, and make a very pretty 
display in summer. A good mixed strain will yield a great 
variety of colours. The camellia-flowered form is the best. 
Iresine. — Tender plants with coloured foliage, much used 
for bedding purposes in summer. Two species are grown, and 
these belong to the Cockscomb order (Amarantaceae). I. 
Herbsti is a native of Brazil, grows ift. high, and has crimson 
leaves and stems. There are two varieties, one, acuminata, 
with narrow leaves, and the other, reticulata, with crimson leaf 
stalks and green leaves veined with golden-yellow. I. I.indeni 
