340 FLORA HISTORICA. 



but they have not yet very generally found their 

 way into the parterre, although they are suffici- 

 ently hardy to stand the open garden, where 

 they would contribute much to the gaiety of 

 Flora's garland by their tall spikes of crimson 

 flowers, which continue in blossom from July to 

 the end of September ; and when they are cul- 

 tivated with care they assume a degree of mag- 

 nificence that is scarcely surpassed by any other 

 plant. 



Mr. W. Hedges has brought them to the high- 

 est state of perfection, having grown them from 

 five to six feet in height, with a stem six inches 

 in circumference, and each plant sending up six- 

 teen or seventeen of these grand spikes of beau- 

 tiful flowers. J. Sabine, Esq. relates the manner 

 of Mr. Hedges' successful mode of cultivating 

 these plants as follows ; "In October, he takes 

 off the suckers, which are thrown up from the 

 roots of the old plants, and puts them into small 

 pots, one in each pot, and keeps them in a cold 

 frame till the middle of January : he then removes 

 them into a cucumber frame, where the heat is 

 kept up to sixty-five degrees of Fahrenheit's 

 scale, by Unings of hot dung ; a pine succession 

 stove of the same temperature will equally suit 

 them. In the middle of February, they are 

 shifted into pots a size larger; and at the end 



