1872. ] 
THE COLEUS FOE CONSERVATORY DECORATION. 
65 
as to health, some few of course not so good as others, and that seems to be the 
bent of the plant’s inclination. Moreover, I can see that unless the bulbs are 
thoroughly well ripened during the growing season, hardened, as it were, out 
of shade in autumn and wintered in a mild moist medium, there will be 
more failures than successes in the crop of flowers from December to February 
and March.—J. Anderson, Meadow Bank. 
THE COLEUS FOR CONSERVATORY DECORATION. 
'OME specimen plants of Coleus standing in the conservatory here, last sum¬ 
mer, were the objects of general admiration. The plants alluded to were 
grown into pyramids, from 5^-ft. to 6 ft. in height, and from 4^-ft. to 5 ft. 
through their base. There were several varieties, but those most admired 
were Queen Victoria, Her Majesty, Albert Victor , and one grafted with two other 
varieties, thus forming three distinct bands each about 18 in. deep, the base 
(stock) being Prince of Wales , the middle Queen Victoria , and the top Princess 
of Wales. We have also formed standards by taking off the side branches of 
any strong-growing sort, and grafting on it six or eight different varieties ; and 
very pretty objects they make, either for the conservatory or dinner-table decora¬ 
tion, though for the latter purpose I think a less number, three or four varieties as 
distinct as possible, is preferable. At present we have a head made up with 
Queen Victoria , Scottii , and Prince Arthur; the contrast is great, and the effect 
good. The small-growing variety Telfordii (aurea) can easily be grown into 
good-sized heads in this way, or if grafted so as to form the centre of a head 
(being a slow grower, it should be kept well up), and surrounded by darker 
varieties, it will have a very pretty effect. 
The Coleus enjoys a high range of temperature, and an abundance of light 
and air are necessary to bring out its brightest colours. It should be well sup¬ 
plied with water at the root and kept in a humid atmosphere, but it is impatient 
of the syringe. Under these conditions it will make rapid growth. The 
pyramids already mentioned were raised from cuttings in the preceding autumn, 
and kept growing through the winter in a cucumber-house at work. The leading 
shoot was kept ahead of the side branches and the latter frequently stopped to in¬ 
duce a pyramidal form, and also to secure a compact growth with the greatest possi¬ 
ble number of points, for the greater the number of points which the plants possess 
(provided they do not crowd each other) the better ; and it is in the early stages, 
when the wood is young and breaks freely, that we must lay the foundation of a 
well-furnished plant. Some varieties have a great tendency to flower, especially 
if at all pot-bound; they should therefore have liberal shifts as often as they 
require, and have the flowering points removed. Should the leading shoot 
show flower, and it is intended to grow pyramids, I find it the best plan to take 
off two or three pairs of leaves with the flowers, as the break will be stronger, 
and will soon more than compensate for the seemingly unnecessary shortening. 
The reason of this is obvious : by cutting back to where the wood is strong, we 
