272 ON MIMULUSES. 



Elphinstonea, Rawsoniana, Wheeleriana, Ranbyana, &c. This plant 

 delights in a rich, moist soil, mixed with sand, and if it be a little 

 shady it is beneficial. The colours of the flower are better,, and 

 the plant more vigorous. A very free supply of water is necessary, 

 in order to grow this successfully. I have had a single plant to grow 

 three feet and a half high, and be six feet in circumference, produc- 

 ing a vast profusion of flowers, most amply repaying the little extra 

 attention paid to its culture. When I obtained this plant at first, I 

 was instructed to grow it in a small shallow pond, keeping the roots 

 immersed in water, I was told that it would there succeed far better 

 than by any other method, but in this particular I find it very much 

 to the contrary. A soil as above described, and a good supply of 

 water in dry weather, is all that is required. I had a plant of M. 

 Elphinstonea, grown in a pot this summer, the size above particu- 

 larized. The species and all its varieties, are readily increased by 

 taking off rooted shoots, or by cuttings. Seed sown in spring, and 

 the plants pricked out into a bed of rich soil, will flower by July and 

 continue through the season. The impregnation of these kinds, with 

 any, or all of the others, produces a pleasing and interesting varia- 

 tion of flowers. 



M. Bifrons. — The flowers of this very pretty species, are large 

 and showy. The flower stem rises about eight inches high. The 

 fine bright yellow blossoms, with one large deep crimson spot are 

 very pretty, they are highly ornamental from April to November. 

 The plant in all respects, requires a treatment as directed for M. ri- 

 valaris and all its varieties. 



M. glutinosa. — This is an old inhabitant of our greenhouses, and 

 is most deservedly so. The plant is shrubby, and of easy culture, 

 producing abundance of buff-yellow flowers. It delights in a rich 

 sandy soil, having the pots well drained. This kind being planted 

 in the open border in spring, becomes a most pleasing object through 

 summer. It requires a warm and sheltered situation, and to be 

 grown in a soil as above stated. Cuttings of this kind readily strike 

 root. I have endeavoured to obtain plants of this kind being im- 

 pregnated with M. rivalaris, and having succeeded in getting seed, 

 I hope next year to be gratified with satisfactory results, by having 

 flowers of the herbaceous kinds upon a shrubby plant. 



M. cardinalis. — This is the newest species I possess. I procured 

 a plant in the summer of 1835, which bloomed and produced seed. 

 I sowed it in January, and early in February potted the plants into a 

 rich soil, keeping them in a melon frame, with a moist and brisk 

 heat. I repotted the plants every two or three weeks, up to the end 



