IPOMOPSIS ELEGANS. 5:3 



here came under niy observation in the summer of 1851, in a 

 nursery where it was positively almost a weed, having ripened 

 seeds in great plenty, shed them and sprung up in every direction, 

 survived a cold winter, and bloomed magnificently. Subsequent 

 acquaintance with the gardens of this country has proved to me 

 that it is one of the commonest plants, and of the easiest culture. 

 In our warm summers it ripens seed in abundance. In 1851 in a 

 garden in this city some plants produced as usual great quantities 

 of seed; a large portion was shed, and soon came up in the borders, 

 on rockwork, and even on the walks. Such plants as were allowed 

 to remain withstood a long and severe winter, the temperature 

 being occasionally 6 ° below zero, yet not a plant was killed or 

 even injured: this past summer (1852) they bloomed finely. It is 

 impossible for a person who has only seen the miserable examples 

 of this plant usually grown in England to form any idea of the 

 brilliancy of colouring which the blooms acquire here, or the profusion 

 in which they are produced. If the flower-spike is removed when 

 its beauty begins, so as to prevent seeding, it will throw out laterals 

 which will continue in bloom during the whole summer. It must 

 be recollected too that all this is going on under a bright sun and 

 burning heat, — a sun and heat under which the greater portion 

 of the fine Californian Annuals refuse to grow. Here the Lan- 

 tanas, Asclepias, Hibiscuses, &c. of English stoves, are the fittest 

 summer occupants of borders, in which they grow luxuriantly and 

 flower as freely as Verbenas do in English gardens. 



Reasoning from the above, were I now cultivating this plant in 

 England, I would proceed somewhat as follows : — I would sow the 

 seed out of doors about August on rockwork or a dry border; when 

 the youug plants appeared, if too thick, I should thin them and 

 keep them from weeds, which would be all they would require until 

 the following spring. If they were on a dry bottom, where they should 

 be, nothing need be apprehended from cold ; should they stand too 

 thickly a portion might be transplanted in April, when they will 

 take to their new quarters as freely as Cabbages, although I know 

 the general opinion to be that they cannot be successfully trans- 

 planted. When sown the site should be very dry, very warm, and 

 should receive all the sun possible; the same should be observed 

 in transplanting. If these directions are adhered to, there need be 

 little fear of failure ; although the plants may not bloom in that 

 profusion or with such brilliancy as in the warm climate of the 

 United States, yet I have not a doubt that the cultivator will 

 be well repaid for his trouble. 



