protection of a greenhouse. Keep the plants root-bound and near the
glass, with a good supply of heat and moisture. They succeed best in
a mixture of loam and peat. Cuttings of shoots 3 in. long planted in
sand, covered with a glass, and plunged in heat 60 to 70 degrees,
will strike. Pot off singly in loam and sand. Bloom in June or July.
Height, 2 ft. to 3 ft.
Colletia.--Ornamental evergreen shrubs. A mixture of peat and loam,
with a sheltered position, is their delight. Cuttings will strike
in sand if covered with glass. They produce their flowers in July.
Height, 2 ft. to 3 ft.
Collinsia.--Most elegant hardy annuals, doing well in any garden soil.
The seed is sown in autumn for early flowering, and in spring for a
later display. Bloom May to August. Height, 1 ft.
Collomia.--Hardy annuals, possessing little beauty. Treat as
Collinsia. Flower in July. Height, 1 ft. to 2 ft.
Colt's-foot.--This hardy perennial flowers before the leaves appear.
It grows best in a moist, clayey soil, and may be increased by pieces
of the running root.
Columbine.--See "Aquilegia."
Colutea Arborescens (Bladder Senna).--A shrub with Acacia-like
leaves and producing yellow Pea-shaped flowers in July, followed with
bladder-shaped seed vessels. It will grow in any soil, and may be
raised either from seed or cuttings taken in autumn. Height, 10 ft.
Commelina Sellowina (Blue Spider Wort, or Day Flower).--A pretty
greenhouse climber, bearing cobalt-blue flowers. It should occupy a
sunny position, and be watered freely from March to September, after
which very little should be given.
Commelina Tuberosa.--Perfectly hardy plants, bearing in June blue or
white flowers the size of a shilling. The bulbs may be planted in
spring in any garden soil; the plants are increased by off-sets.
Height, 1-1/2 ft.
Compost Heap.--Get a heap of dead leaves and press and jam them down
as closely as possible. Then take as much manure, in appearance,
as you have dead leaves, and for each cartload have two bushels of
unslaked quicklime and some earth. Now spread upon the ground, in some
out-of-the-way corner, a layer of the dead leaves, upon which sprinkle
a layer of lime, and over that a thin layer of earth. Next lay on a
covering of manure, then a layer of leaves, and one of lime and earth
as before, and proceed in this way till all the materials are used up.
It will be well, however, to give the heap a good watering whenever
you come to the layer of leaves. This slakes the lime and hastens the
decomposition of the vegetable matter. After letting it stand for
about six weeks, begin at the top of the heap and turn it completely
over, so that what was at the bottom will be at the top. Repeat this