209 
white or pale lilac in color, and the edges of the limb 
quite smooth, with a terminal notch in each segment. 
Another variety with slightly fringed edges was after- 
wards introduced, and from these, through the efforts of 
cultivators, have sprung the beautiful forms now to be 
seen in gardens. Some flowers of these varieties measure 
two inches and a half across the limb, the color a clear 
magenta, and deep orange eye, beautifully fringed at the 
edges; the white variety is equally large and well fringed, 
the pure white prettily contrasted with the rich orange- 
colored eye, and they have the good property of forming 
tolerably long flower spikes, so that all the blooms stand 
well up above the foliage. The fern-leaved varieties are 
also very handsome, and produce very fine flowers of 
_various shades; and it frequently occurs that some fine 
double-flowered forms are also produced in this way. 
The seed should be sown upon some leaf mould and well 
decomposed manure, in pots filled to within about half 
an inch of the top; the surface of the soil should be left 
somewhat rough, and the seed sprinkled upon it, and 
instead of covering with soil, tie a piece of paper over the 
pot, and place in gentle heat. The paper only should be 
watered ; this will give sufficient moisture, and prevent 
he seeds being washed away, and will not subject them 
to the sudden extremes of drought and moisture, which 
is so fatal to these plants at the time of germination. 
In about three weeks the seeds will have germinated, 
after which the seed pots should be removed to a shady 
place and the paper removed, and, when the plants are 
jarge enough, potted inte separate pots, and gradually 
subjected to cooler treatment, until they can be placed in 
a greenhouse or pit close to the glass, and moved into 
larger pots as their growth demands it. It is, however, 
not advisable to give them teo much pot room, as they 
