1'llLOX DKCHMONDII. 155 



In the first stage of their growth, they do not need a rich soil ; but in the subsequent 

 pottings, this can hardly be of too generous a nature. Great care should be taken 

 that they do not become ' drawn,' which must be prevented by giving the young 

 plants as much light and air as possible. Those intended for grouping in the beds 

 or borders, should be gradually hardened before turning out ; for which purpose 

 they should, for a week or two, be exposed during the day, but protected at night. 

 As the plants are comparatively slender, and not much branched, a better effect is 

 produced by grouping several together, than by single specimens. They require 

 rich soil, and abundant watering in dry weather, or the stems are liable to become 

 naked at the bottom. 



When grown entirely in pots, they are very ornamental objects for a long period 

 during the summer and autumn, especially when not drawn up during their earlier 

 progress. As the production of seed checks the further formation of flowers, the 

 seed-vessels should be pinched off, when not required. 



AVhere there are facilities for preserving the seedlings through the winter, either 

 in a cold frame or cool greenhouse, the seeds are sometimes sown iu autumn ; in 

 which case, they flower at an earlier period, and are rather more vigorous in their 

 growth. In the case of any particular variety which it may be desired to propagate 

 with certainty, cuttings may be taken at almost any period, and treated in the usual 

 manner ; though this must be regarded rather as a precautionary measure, than as 

 absolutely necessary, for many of the varieties may be perpetuated by seed. 



The perennial species and hybrids of the Phlox family, are among the most 

 useful of all the hardy herbaceous plants, and no garden should be without several 

 of them. So numerous have the hybrids become, that, at most of the London 

 Nurseries, several hundred varieties may be obtained. Madame Frohel, General 

 Duvivier, Adonis, Conspicua, La Perle, and Napoleon, are a few of the best; the last, 

 especially, is a very beautiful plant, with blush white flowers, striped with rosy 

 violet, and of excellent habit. 



A very pretty and useful dwarf and nearly hardy variety, raised between 

 P. Drummondii and one of the perennial species, is the P. depressa, with rosy purple 

 flowers. There are many other varieties with larger and more showy blossoms, but 

 none of so compact a habit ; it rarely exceeds ten or twelve inches in height, and 

 produces a profusion of side shoots, much in the same way as its parent the P. 

 Drummondii. 



All the perennial Phloxes require a rich, strong soil, and should be divided every 

 autumn, and replanted. If this precaution is neglected, they will speedily 

 dwindle, especially in poor, dry soils. 



In a structural point of view, the Phloxes are of less interest than many of the 

 plants we have figured ; but even here something may be found worthy of obser- 

 vation. The tube of the flower is so narrow, that were the stamens all arranged in 



