ing two or three feet high. But it is one of those uncertain 

 plants which will die suddenly during the hot weather in 

 July and August, especially after a few hours rain, if planted 

 in the open border, although it may have been previously in 

 the highest state of health and vigour. Mr. Gordon, who 

 has had the management of it in the garden of the Horticul- 

 tural Society, has given us the following note concerning its 

 management. 



" It seldom can be kept alive for more than two or three 

 seasons after being raised from seeds, even in pots, unless 

 treated in the following manner. 



" The seeds should be sown in pans, filled with a mixture 

 of peat and loam, to which should be added a small portion of 

 decomposed cow-dung, and placed in a close pit or frame. 

 They soon come up if sown in the spring or summer, but if 

 sown late in the autumn the seeds lie in the soil until the 

 following spring before they vegetate. When up, and before 

 they make a rough leaf, prick them off into a fresh pan filled 

 with the same kind of soil as that in which the seed was 

 sown. Afterwards keep them shut up close and well shaded, 

 and finally pot them off singly when they have made three or 

 four proper leaves, giving them at once a shift into larger pots, 

 and return them to the frame, which should now^ have the 

 back turned to the sun, and be kept close for a few weeks ; 

 air not being given at any time until the plants are fairly 

 started and growing again. Afterwards remove the lights en- 

 tirely during the night timet and keep them on quite close in the 

 day, during the summer and autumn. When the nights be- 

 come vvet and frosty, remove the plants to a cold pit for the 

 winter, where there is plenty of light and air and no damp.'* 



