554 THE GARDENER. [Dec. 



ducing them. But the Pentstemon can also be raised from seed, and 

 treated as an annual to bloom the same year. The seed should be 

 sown in early spring, in pans, using some light fine soil, and be started 

 into growth in a gentle bottom-heat. From the time the plants are 

 large enough to handle till the time they are planted out to bloom, 

 they should be pushed on as much as possible. I always give my seed- 

 ling Pentstemons so raised a good bed, pretty rich, but by no means 

 all manure, and they bloom gloriously. I seed from a few of the best 

 named kinds, and I get good flowers, yet always purchase a few new 

 kinds, for there is a great pleasure in proving both. 



Some amateur cultivators, desirous of raising seedlings, who have 

 little or no bottom-heat available, can sow in August, in pans, in a light 

 sandy soil, covering the seeds but slightly, and place the pans in a 

 cold frame ; the seeds will be certain to grow. Young plants so raised 

 can be pricked off into boxes, or planted out in a cold frame, to winter 

 the plants ; or if a good warm sheltered border can be made available, 

 they can be planted out in the autumn, and they would be found to 

 winter much better than old plants. At the blooming-time the plants 

 should be staked in case of wind ; and whether grouped in beds, 

 dotted about borders, or kept in a plantation for cutting from, they are 

 equally acceptable and useful. 



To any one contemplating the provision of a collection, I would re- 

 commend the following : — Agnes Laing, Black Knight, Bridesmaid, 

 Grandis, Henry King, Painted Lady, Snowdrop, and Stanstead Sur- 

 prise. These are new varieties of Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing, 

 sent out in the spring of the present year, and all very fine. Of older 

 flowers I can confidently commend Albert Tardieu, Bons Villageois, 

 Colin Bell, Due de Lorraine, Eclat, Flower of the Day, George Sand, 

 Grande Conde, James Rothschild, Le Lion, Maria Held, Mrs A. 

 Sterry, Purple Perfection, Queen Victoria, Souvenir de St Paul, Sur- 

 passe, Victor Hugo, and The Emperor. Nemo. 



NEW PLANTS OF THE PAST MONTH. 



The last meeting of the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural 

 Society brought together a most pleasant and cheerful assemblage of 

 plants, all the more captivating because the weather without was dull 

 and cheerless. New plants and flowers were in strong force, late as it 

 was, and several first-class certificates were awarded. The following 

 plants exhibited by Messrs James Veitch and Sons were distinguished 

 by this high award : — Dracoena porphyrophylla, a noble-looking and 



