t873-] florist FLOWERS. 217 



January, and it carried a full crop of very tidy little bunches, and cutting was 

 begun in the beginning of May. The minimum night temperature at starting 

 in January was 50°, and at the setting period 70° — the sorts of Vines, Ham- 

 burgs and old Sweet Water, It was heated on the old flue system, which is now 

 changed for hot water. The Vines are still doiog duty to this day, and no word 

 of either failure, ruin, or death. 



Cases of failure have come under my observation, but never in skilful hands. 

 I once saw a house that had been worked as an early house, and they actually 

 managed to kill the Vines in six years from the time of planting ; but they were 

 in the hands of one of those men who creep into the profession by the doing of 

 odd jobs about the house. This man worked his way so well that, with the as- 

 sistance of the housekeeper, he ousted the head-gardener (a man of the highest 

 ability), and stepped into his shoes. 



Another instance, that of a gardener who entered on a new charge, and he 

 was to send early Grapes to the family in London ; but when the blooming 

 period arrived, there was only one bunch made its appearance in the whole 

 house. Cases like the above are, happily, exceedingly rare, as men skilled in 

 their subject will get through many difficulties. Instead of thinking that the 

 Editor's article in the March number clashed unfavourably with my reply to 

 J, S,, I think it may be of much benefit to those for whom it was intended, I 

 am not an advocate of hard firing, but I am opposed to extremes. The 

 Editor drew no line, far less at such extremes as J, S, did his minimum 

 night temperature in the December number, and which is only adapted 

 for Hamburgs, floyal Muscadines, and for structures where people are 

 pleased to take Grapes from when they can get them, and moreover need by no 

 means be termed "forcing-houses." I will now conclude, and as I am (unlike 

 Mr Simpson) a stranger to literary fame, I will preserve my incognito, 



Broughty- Ferry. D. J. 



FLORIST FLOWERS. 



THE PENTSTEMOX. 



This valuable border-plant is fast rising in the estimation of the generality of 

 horticulturists, which is not to be wondered at, considering its great usefulness 

 as a border ornament alone. Great as are its merits as a mixed border-plant, 

 the fulness of its beauty is much more apparent when figuring in groups or 

 ribbon-borders in the flower-garden proper. There its graceful semi-pendant 

 spikes are most telling. The Pentstemon has the further recommendation of 

 being most suitable for bleak localities : it will grow and flourish in perfection 

 where Geraniums would prove worthless — defying alike wind and rain. 



In the different species of the genus there is a strongly-marked diversity as 

 regards height, vigour, colour, and even hardiness. All its species are natives 

 of America, although somewhat widely separated in their geographical distribu- 

 tion. From amongst the oldest known kinds we may enumerate : P, Itevigatus, 

 a native of North America, introduced into Europe in 1756 ; P, pubescens, from 

 the same country two years later; P, campanulata we had from Mexico in 

 1793. 



Propagation from Seed. — The autumn is perhaps the best period of the year 

 to sow Pentstemon seed. Autumn-sown plants are more vigorous, and they will 

 flower more profusely the following summer. The seed ought to be sown in 



