Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 May 1874 — FLORIGULTVRE.—COCKSCOMBS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FLORIGULTVRE.—COCKSCOMBS.

The cockscomb belongs to the amaranth family. Its botanical name is celosia, from the Greek language, and means dried, alluding to its scarious or dry, scale-like bracts. It is a half-hardy and very brilliant, large, fine, showy annual of easy cultivation. It is a native of India, but flourishes well upon all kinds of soil in this part of the world. As with all other vegetation, however, a rich soil is best, and a warm situation has much effect in producing extra plants. The ent heading this article represents tall and dwarf plants ; the former grow three to four feet high, while the latter are only one foot to eighteen inches in hight. Flowers of either variety are singular in form and of immense size. In shape they are like a cock’s comb, as the common name indicates, and not unfrequently measure eighteen inches across the top, from one side to the other, with a thickness of six inches. In color they are ashey white, sulphur yellow, violet, scarlet, and rose; the three latter colors are brightest and best, and dwarfs are to be preferred in siq&H beds and small gardens. Besides being beautiful garden ornaments, they also do finely as pot and retain their brilliant colors when dried, hence

are excellent for winter bouquet*. Seads should be started in hot bed or in the house, or in our latitude they produce good plants in ordinary seasons when planted in the open ground-