180 THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



half leaf-mould and half loam, with an addition of silver sand, sufficient 

 to render the mixture light and friable. Plunge these pots in a 

 gentle heat and keep close till rooted, which will be in about 

 fifteen days, then pot singly in 60 size pots, and in these pots winter 

 them. "When grown in quantity they are usually wintered in the 

 cutting pots, and have a shift at the end of February or early in 

 March, into 32 size pots well drained and filled with a mixture of 

 leaf-mould, turfy loam, and rotten dung equal parts. At the end of 

 April or early in May these may be again shifted in pots of 12 size, 

 in which to bloom. They will require abundance of water, and may 

 have saucers to keep the roots constantly in action. Any required 

 extra fine for exhibition, should have liquid manure once a week, but 

 without this help the plants will flower finely if grown as otherwise 

 directed. Of course the cultivator may shift on seedlings to the same 

 size pots as plants from cuttings, but generally it is best to flower 

 seedlings in 48 size, and grow into specimens only selected varieties 

 known to be worth extra culture. 



Properties and Hybridizing. — The attention of the cultivator 

 should be chiefly directed to the form of the flower ; in habit and 

 colour it can scarcely be improved. Flowers that collapse are not 

 worth growing, however fine their colours, except it be to furnish 

 pollen for hybridizing flowers of good shape. The broader the seg- 

 ments, and the smoother the edges, the higher will the flower rank 

 in the eye of the florist, and deservedly so. In selecting varieties 

 to propagate from cuttings, or to produce seed, give the preference 

 to those that exhibit an expanded flat surface, with small spaces 

 between the petals. As regards colours, these should be bright and 

 decided ; the markings sharp, on clear grounds ; yellow is the most 

 common hue, and white the most rare. In every endeavour to 

 improve the mimulus the hybridizer should select for the seedling 

 flowers those that have thick, broad petals, and that most nearly 

 approach a circular outline ; and for pollen, flowers that are the most 

 brilliantly and regularly coloured. If the pollen flower is also well 

 formed, there is the greater chance of a pod of seed worth saving. 



Greenhouse Spectes and Varieties. — M. cardinalis is the parent 

 of the best show varieties we possess. The original species grows 

 to a height of two feet, and produces fine scarlet flowers. Seedlings 

 vary to all the shades of rose, ruby, maroon, pink, and crimson ; 

 and if crossed with roseus, SmitJiii, and variegatus, some very showy 

 strains may be secured. Cardinalis is a native of California, and 

 was introduced in 1835. M. roseus has small flowers of regular 

 shape, with yellow throat and bright rose petals ; it is one of the 

 most beautiful in cultivation. Mr. Douglas sent seeds of this to 

 England from North California in 1831 , and it was first flowered in 

 the gardens of the Horticultural Society. This is strictly a peren- 

 nial, and is not so easily cultivated as most others of the genus. 

 The best method of treatment is to keep it constantly in the frame 

 or greenhouse, potted in turfy loam three parts, sandy peat one 

 part, and leaf-mould one part, and the pot always in a pan of water, 

 except duriDg cold winter weather. It is easily increased by cut- 

 tings, and occasionally ripens seeds. M, variegatus is a native of 



