Shrubland Rose, delicate rose.

Undine, crimson.

Spitfire, dark plum, suffused with crimson; extra good.

PENTSTEMONS-1 to 2 feet.-Hybridizers have effected great improvement in these of late years, and they are very showy border flowers. They are very easily increased by cuttings in August and September under handglasses, the same way as recommended for Verbenas, and can be wintered where they are struck, and transplanted in April. To increase scarce varieties, the best way is to pot off when rooted, and place them in heat in spring, when they strike very freely in bottom heat. The side shoots, without bloom spikes, are best for cuttings. They require a rich soil, and, generally speaking, are quite hardy.

Admiral Dundas, rosy crimson.
Azurea elegans, nearly blue.
C. W. Cowan, light crimson.
Dr. Hogg, scarlet.
Fire King, scarlet.
John Pow, red.

Miss Moinet, bluish mauve.
Mrs Bremner, creamy white.

Mrs Brooks, purple crimson.
Neatness, rosy scarlet.
Robert Parker, rosy crimson.
Scarlet Gem, scarlet.
Shirley Hibberd, salmon.
The Emperor, purplish crimson.
William Martin, striped crimson.
William Thom, bluish purple.

PHLOX DRUMMONDII-Various, 8 inches to 1 foot.—Since such a variety of colour has been attained in Pelargoniums, this pretty plant and its varieties have not been so much grown. They are, nevertheless, very pretty, and deserving of a place in the garden. The seed should be sown the first week in March, in seed pans or boxes, in light rich soil. Place it in a temperature of 65°, and keep it regularly moist. As soon as the young plants can be conveniently handled, prick them off into boxes 2 inches apart each way. Keep them in a temperature

G

of 65° till they have begun to grow freely, then harden them off, and stop them when they grow to about 3 inches high. The stopping causes them to make lateral growths. Do not plant out till the end of May, and let them have good rich soil, and they will keep up a long succession of bloom. They must have a place where they are well exposed to the sun.

PHLOXES-2 to 3 feet.-For mixed flower borders and shrubberies, this genus of hardy perennial plants is very ornamental and effective. They are easily increased by division in the spring, and also by cuttings in August. They strike freely under a handglass in sandy soil, and every joint will root. In spring, transplant into deep, rather heavy, rich soil if possible, as the flowers and panicles are much finer than when grown on light dry soils; moreover, they last much longer in bloom. They should be renewed by lifting and dividing the roots, or by cuttings every second or third year; and when the stools are large, the weaker stems should be thinned out to give the others room.

Admiration, red, crimson centre.

Brilliant, rose.

Captain Speke, rosy crimson.

Comtesse de Turenne, purple, edged with white.

Countess of Breadalbane, carmine.

Countess of Home, white.

Dr. Lacroix, red.

Dr. Leroy, rosy crimson.

Duchess of Sutherland, white.

Edouard Andy, carmine.

Etoile de Nevilly, white, tinged with violet.

George Wynnes, rosy purple.

Hebe, lilac, rose eye.

Lucien Tisserand, bluish violet.

Madame Houlet, white, with crimson centre.

Madame Corbay, white, violet centre.

Monsieur Delamane, red.

Monsieur Donnaud, violet, suffused with salmon.

Monsieur Alphonse Dufoy, red, shaded with violet.
Monsieur Mithvier, crimson, suffused with salmon.

Miss Ogilvie, white.

Premices Bonheur, white, with cerise centre.
Rêve d'Or, bright salmon.

Roi de Roses, rosy salmon.

Rosy Gems, rosy purple.

Souvenir des Fernes, white, purple centre.
Souvenir de Trianon, lilac rose.

William Elder, rosy purple.

PERILLA NANKINENSIS-1 to 2 feet, Dark Chocolate.This annual derives its usefulness from the striking appearance of its dark chocolate-coloured foliage. It is most effective in lines, and can be kept to any required height by being pinched. The seed should be sown in pans or boxes about the middle of February in a temperature of 60°. When large enough to handle freely, it should be transplanted into boxes, as has been directed for various other things. If put in too thick, it draws, and becomes weakly. Two inches each way is sufficiently thick. The soil should not be over rich. for either the seed or the young plants, as it has a tendency to grow very strong. It should be kept in heat till 4 to 6 inches high. It is tender, and must be gradually hardened off. It makes fibry compact roots and transplants well from the boxes. It should not be planted till the end of May, and in late places the beginning of June. Soil moderately rich.

For those who have not command of artificial heat in spring, this is not a very suitable plant, as it requires heat to get it to a suitable size for planting in proper time; still, it vegetates freely in the open borders in

summer, and it might be tried in a warm corner of a greenhouse, sowing it in March.

DIANTHUS BARBATUS (SWEET WILLIAM)-1 foot.-At one time great attention was given to this lovely plant, and there are fine collections of the auricula-flowered and self-coloured varieties, and few plants are more charming. But although, in hot seasons particularly, they do not last sufficiently long in bloom to make them serviceable in the parterre (unless they be removed when done blooming, and something else put in their place), they are, nevertheless, beautiful mixedborder flowers. The fine single varieties are preferred by some on account of their beautiful marking, but some of the double are very charming. To raise them from seed, this should be carefully selected from the most choice varieties. The end of May or beginning of June is a good time to sow for the following season's blooming. The seed should be sown outdoors in a light rich bed of soil, and when the young plants are 2 inches high, if they cannot be planted at once where they are to bloom, they should be pricked out into nursery beds, and transplanted in spring with good balls. Choice varieties must of course be propagated by cuttings, which is very readily done under handglasses, or even without such aid in a shady corner. They require a rather heavy rich soil to grow them to perfection.

SAPONARIA CALABRICA, Pink-S. CALABRICA ALBA, White, 6 to 9 inches.-This is a charming thing for little beds and edgings. Sow in gentle heat the beginning of April; when it can be conveniently handled, prick it off into boxes in moderately rich soil. Keep it in heat till it begins to grow freely, then harden off by degrees.

When planted, be careful to preserve some soil to the roots, and water well should the weather be dry. It thrives best in a sandy loam moderately enriched.

SALVIA PATENS-Blue, 1 to 2 feet. This is perhaps the most lively and intense blue flowering plant we have; but in some soils, especially shallow sandy ones, it has the defect of dropping its flowers in dry weather, so that it is, under such circumstances, rather defective and ragged-looking. On better soils it is a desirable plant for large beds and mixed borders. In lines mixed with yellows or whites it looks exceedingly well. It can be raised from seed sown in heat early in February, or the tuberous roots can be lifted and wintered like Dahlias, and started in heat early in spring. It strikes freely from cuttings. It can also be preserved by covering the surface of the border with litter or spent bark after the tops are cut down, as referred to in the case of Dahlias, and hence is a useful plant for amateurs.

SALVIA FULGENS AND FULGENS VARIEGATA-Scarlet, 3 feet. These are very useful for back rows and mixed. borders. They are easily propagated by cuttings in August and September in a close cold frame; and in spring in the same way as Heliotropes or Ageratums. When large plants are required, the old ones can be lifted and potted, or put close together in deep boxes. They should be cut down to within 6 inches of the soil when potted. Whether in store cuttings, pots, or as old plants, they are easily wintered in any place which is dry, and where frost can be excluded. They are not particular as to soil, and thrive in any common garden soil moderately enriched.