COMPOSITE plants so abound in all parts of the earth, and more especially in temperate and sub-tropical zones, that it is impossible to regard them collectively without experiencing a tendency to speculate on the beginnings of things. Are they the radiata of the vegetable kingdom, and therefore somewhat primitive in the chronological sequence of vegetable development? Are they primordial? No; we will get away from such questions, and for the present rest content in saying that there are 9,000 species of composite plants known to botanists, and they constitute about a twelfth part of the entire vegetable kingdom. Considering their number, the proportion of useful plants amongst them is small, but in respect of their usefulness there is just the same sort of family likeness that we discover in the cross-worts and the grasses. As in the crucifers a whole-some pungency is the predominant property, and in the grasses there is an almost complete absence of medicinal virtue, but a prodigious power of producing food, so the composite plants are characterised by the production of a tonic stimulant, and the fragrance of the camomile is in many ways repeated in this vast group of plants. But we shall not seek in vain for useful plants among the composites, for the lettuce, endive, salsify, artichoke, and sunflower are composites; and if we can for once put the dulce before the utile, we shall find an immense assemblage of these plants adorning our gardens. The dahlia is one of the number; the coreopsis is another. Between the two how great and glorious is the floral throng!

The coreopsis, or calliopsis, is one of the first among garden plants to make an impression on the young amateur florist. It is sure to be included in his first purchase of garden seeds, along with the Virginia stock, ten-week stock, sweet-pea, and mignonette; and as these are all good things, we may congratulate him that he begins the world well in floriculture, and deserves to prosper. And our plant belongs to that happy-go-lucky family of flowers, the seeds of which may be sown where they are to remain in almost any kind of soil, and will come to gladness rather than grief, even with very bad gardening. Short of taking them up every two or three days to see how they are getting on, they will bear almost any amount of mistaken kindness, such as watering too much or not watering at all; being left as "thick as thieves," instead of being thinned betimes, and in being located in a shady place instead of the full sunshine. One of our sages has remarked that "Nature never did betray the heart that loved her;" but it seems Nature goes out of her way to encourage and accommodate the hearts that love her "not wisely," but she does not know of those who love her "too well."

The seedsmen's catalogues will show that there are many sorts of coreopsis in cultivation. They are all good, and therefore all worth growing. They are mostly adapted by their height for the second or third row in the border, and as they are rather late in flowering, they should be sown as early in March as may be convenient.

The coreopsis takes its name from the resemblance of its seeds to a koris, or bug; but the name might by the fanciful, who care nothing for philology, be derived from korus, a helmet, because that word has grown so as to cover anything that glitters; and a bunch of coreopsis may be properly spoken of as a floral coruscation. And it is not a long way round to derive a coruscation from a helmet, because a few thousands of bright helmets moving in a mass make a glitter worthy of a grand name. In North's "Plutarch" we read of the Thracians and Macedonians, that "the glistering of their harness, so richly trimmed and set forth with gold and silver, the colours of their arming coats upon their curaces, after the fashion of the Medes and Scythians, mingled with the bright glistering steel and shining copper, gave such a show as they went and removed too and fro, that made a light as clear as if all had been on a very fire, a fearfull thing to look upon." Having digressed so far upon the hint of a fanciful derivation, and knowing it to be as nice to be hung for a sheep as a lamb, we subjoin an extract from More's "Psychathanasis" (II. 2, 16), in which occurs a quaint illustration of the possibilities of speech:-

"But oft when the weak body's worn and wasted,

And far shrunk in, the nimble phantasie

(So far shee's from being withered and blasted)

More largely worketh, and more glitterandly

Displays her spreaden forms, and cheerfully

Pursues her sports."

The other generic name by which these plants are known, Calliopsis, means "beautiful flower," or "lovely eye;" or it may be regarded as a reminder of Calliope, the first of the nine muses, who was not only lovely to look upon, but had an enchanting voice.

All the species of coreopsis are natives of the New World, where they range from far north to the hottest of the West Indian islands. It is usual to speak of the genus as consisting wholly of yellow-flowered plants, but C.alba has white flowers; C.diversifolia, crimson; C. rosea, red; and C. atropurpurea, dark purple. Several species are in repute as dye-plants on the American continent. C. tinctoria is so called on account of its value to the dyer; but perhaps C. tricolor is of more importance-at all events, it is not the least of its kindred in its economical relations. Although the flowers of these dye-plants may be yellow, the dye obtained from them is red.