122 ON THE MIMULUS. 



forming a beautiful object, and rendering it deserving a place in every 

 department where it can be cultivated. It requires, if grown in the 

 open border, to be raised as China Asters, Marigolds, &c, early in 

 spring, and be forwarded so as to be strong by May, when, if planted 

 out in a warm and sheltered situation, in a rich soil, it will bloom 

 freely, and the colours of the flowers be deeper than when grown in 

 pots in the conservatory or greenhouse. When grown in the latter 

 situations, however, the plants become larger and bloom more pro- 

 fusely. When cultivated in pots it requires a similar treatment to the 

 Balsam, rich soil and frequent repotting amply repaying for every 

 attention, being one of the most ornamental and showy flowering 

 annual plants, and deserves to be in every flower garden, cool frame, 

 greenhouse, or conservatory. It blooms from May to November, 

 when properly cultivated. 



ARTICLE II. 



ON THE MIMULUS. 

 By Philos. 

 Thinking that perhaps an article on the less admired, but not less 

 handsome kinds of plants, would not be unacceptable to your 

 Cabinet, I here send you a few remarks on the origin and culture of 

 the Mimulus, as being a flower worthy of much more attention than 

 it now obtains. 



Origin. — The Mimulus, or Monkey Plant, is a native of North 

 America. The first species was introduced into England in 1759, 

 and from that time cultivated with great care, until lately, when 

 other sorts of flowers have taken the precedence. 



Culture. — Although it may be thought by some that any hints 

 on the culture of this plant are superfluous, yet I must say that to 

 bring it to its best state many things must be attended to which are 

 generally overlooked. As the Mimulus is seen to the greatest 

 advantage when treated as a greenhouse plant, I shall confine 

 myself to this method of cultivation. Soil with this, as with every 

 other kind of flower, is the first thing to be considered, for if this be 

 unsuited to the nature of the plant, all labour in every other respect 

 must be unfruitful. The mixture which I have found best adapted 

 is composed as follows :— To one peck of fresh loam I add one peck 



