232 LABIATE. 



plants demands. All the tender suffruticose species, such as S. 

 splcndejis^ gesnerceflora^ ca7idelab?'a^ &c., have to be treated ex- 

 actly like the general run of bedding plants ; that is, if a suffi- 

 cient stock of old plants cannot be stored for the purpose in 

 view. But if that can be done the plant should be treated very- 

 much like Fuchsias at rest, and be further treated like them in 

 spring, by being shaken out of their pots and repotted in the 

 same sized pots, and encouraged to make growth rapidly : in 

 fact, they may be grown along with the Fuchsias, and treated as 

 to pinching and stopping as they are treated up till May, when 

 they must be gradually hardened off preparatory to being turned 

 out into beds and borders along with the bedding stuff in the 

 end of the month. Plants so done make splendid objects in 

 mixed borders, or in groups by themselves, associated with 

 shrubs in sheltered places on lawns, or about flower-gardens. 

 The hardy herbaceous species are plants of easy culture, suc- 

 ceeding well in rich sandy loam, and easily increased by division. 



S. argentea {Silvery-leaved S.) — Hardy only in the southern 

 and warmer and drier parts of the kingdom. It is worthy of 

 cultivation for the leaves alone ; indeed the flowers are neither 

 highly ornamental nor lasting. The plant forms large tufts of 

 large oblong leaves angularly lobed and cordate at the base, and 

 densely clothed on both. sides, especially the upper, with long 

 silvery down. The flower-stems rise 2 }^ or 3 feet high, having 

 a few pairs of opposite leaves at the joints diminishing in size 

 as they ascend. The stems branch freely into flowering branches. 

 The flowers are in whorled spikes, and white, and appear in 

 July. Native of Monte di Cammarata, Sicily, and Crete, in 

 warm dry positions. A dry atmosphere is essential to it in 

 winter — so dry as to necessitate its being sheltered in frames or 

 greenhouses in the north. It is striking amongst collections of 

 variegated or fine-foliaged plants in pots under glass. 



S. bicolor {Two-coloured S.) — The plant is hardier than the 

 last. The root-leaves are heart-shaped, usually with two 

 spreading lobes at the base, and otherwise lobed and toothed, 

 and woolly. The flower-stems rise to the height of 2 or 2 )^ 

 feet, with a few entire arrow-headed opposite leaves at the 

 joints. The flowers are large, in rather distant whorls, white, 

 with deep violet, and appearing in early summer. 



S. bracteata {Large-bracted S.) — A distinct and handsome 

 plant. It produces large deeply-cut leaves, hairy on both sides. 

 The stems rise about 3 feet high, branching freely, and flower- 

 ing freely. The flowers, individually, are small and purple, 

 but are attended by conspicuous bracts. They appear in early 

 summer, and last a few weeks. Native of Russia. 



