COLEUS  , a genus of herbaceous or shrubby

plants belonging to the natural order Labiatae, chiefly natives of the tropics . They are very ornamental plants, the colour of their leaves being exceedingly varied, and often very brilliant . They are of the easiest culture . The cuttings of young shoots should be propagated every year, about March, being, planted in thumb pots, in sandy loam, and placed in a close temperature of 70° . After taking root shift into 6-in. pots, using ordinary light loamy compost, containing abundance of leaf-mould and sand, and keeping them near the light . They may be passed on into larger pots as often as required, but 8-in. pots will be large enough for general purposes, as they can be fed with liquid manure . The young spring-struck plants like a warm growing atmosphere, but by midsummer they will bear more air and stand in a green-house or conservatory . They should be wintered in a temperature of 6o° to 65° . The stopping of the young shoots must be regulated by the consideration whether bushy or pyramidal plants are desired . Some of the varieties are half-hardy and are used for summer bedding .