1869.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 93 



IRESINE HERBSTII. 



TO THE EDITOR OF THE ' GARDENER.' 



Sir, — I have read with interest your observations on the cultivation of Iresine 

 Herbstii, but I fear many may follow out your directions and still make but a 

 sorry display. I have carefully watched the attempts made by men, eminent for 

 their abilities as gardeners both in public and private gardens, but I have never 

 yet seen this plant do justice to the care bestowed upon it in a fine neighbour- 

 hood, whatever care may be given to it. It is a sorry production in all the out- 

 door attempts about Loudon. I was detained for an hour at Ashford, in Kent, 

 this summer, and availed myself of the opportunity of going over Messrs Bun- 

 yards' garden. There I saw Iresine Herbstii in very great beauty. There was 

 every advantage of soil and clear atmosphere : the colour was most lovely, and 

 the form satisfactory. I could hardly recognise it as the same plant which I had 

 seen when the locality did not suit. I should suspect that this plant, like Coleus 

 Verschaffeltii, would be benefited by the check which plunging in a small pot 

 affords. Admiring the plant much, I feel that, not having an open and clear 

 atmosphere, I can do nothing with it even under your able instructions. 



21th November 1868. Down South. 



NOTES OW HAKDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 



PARASTRANTHUS. 



Formerly the few species that are included in this genus were con- 

 sidered Lobelias ; and, as implied in the new generic name, an inver- 

 sion of the parts of the flower is the base on which the new family is 

 built up. The distinction is perhaps more technical than popular, but 

 is sufficiently important and tangible, from a scientific point of view, 

 to commend to us the adoption of the new name in practice in the 

 garden. The species are few, and are neither striking nor showy, 

 but are pretty humble plants, adapted for the margins of mixed beds 

 or borders, and for rockwork. They have not hitherto been much 

 cultivated in this country, owing probably to the fact that they are not 

 hardy enough to endure with impunity the winter climate, except in a 

 few favoured places in the south and west. Being natives of the Cape 

 of Good Hope, they are, as most of the plants from that country which 

 we cultivate in this, dependent on winter protection and a little aid 

 from artificial heat in spring ; for though they may survive the winter, 

 vitality is so impaired that, except they are so aided, little progress is 

 made in growth till summer is far advanced, and consequently the 

 flowering period is postponed and curtailed. The best and surest method 

 of preserving them is to take cuttings of them in autumn, and other- 

 wise treat the plants as for Lobelias of the dwarf-bedding kinds. P. 

 luteus grows to the height of 6 or 8 inches, with somewhat spreading 

 prostrate branches, small, elliptical, toothed leaves, and yellow flowers. 



