162 PENTSTEMON OENTIANOIDES ATRO-CiERTJLEUM. 



these are amongst the most valuable bedding plants we possess ; and among hardy 

 bedders they are indeed unrivalled, flowering from the beginning of July to 

 October, or even later, if they are prevented from ripening seeds. 



There are a considerable number of varieties of this species, which shows a strong 

 tendency to ' sport ' its colours. Among the best are giganteum elegans, scarlet with 

 streaked throat; Bucldi, large scarlet with pure white throat; diaphanum, rose 

 with tube nearly transparent; and Saltern, with white tube variously streaked 

 with rose and red ; we believe this last is also sold under the name of midabile : 

 All of them are of the easiest propagation, by short side shoots, inserted under a 

 hand-glass in a shady place. A readier method of increasing them is by layers, 

 which root with great facility during the summer months, and indeed at almost any 

 season. Gentianoides, Hartwcgii, and all their varieties, are quite hardy in most 

 localities ; in wet soils, especially in the northern counties, a few cuttings or rooted 

 layers should be preserved through the winter season, out of the reach of frost, 

 as a precaution against loss. 



Although for general purposes the Pentstemons we have named, are the most 

 valuable of the genus, there are many other very beautiful species of great interest. 



The P. atro-purpureum is an extremely handsome plant, with dark purple 

 flowers, and somewhat slender stems, the foliage narrow and toothed. It is less 

 hardy than some others ; but although the stems are often killed by sharp frosts, 

 the roots preserve their vitality, and the plant shoots again the following season- 

 It is so ornamental a species, that it deserves a little protection ; where it is 

 found too tender for exposure, a shoot or two should be layered, and when rooted, 

 potted off and protected in a frame. It also ripens abundance of seeds. This 

 plant is by no means rare ; we have seen it in nearly all the London Florist's Lists, 

 and its price does not often exceed one shilling. 



The P. Murrayanum is auother fine species, from Texas, with beautiful glossy 

 scarlet flowers. Both these and the foliage are larger than in the preceding 

 species ; and it is also of rather taller habit. It will need the same precautions 

 to preserve it through the winter. 



The P. Wrigldii is a charming plant, and will, we have no doubt, be a great 

 favourite. This species is described at page 90. It is not yet, we believe, in the 

 hands of the trade, but will probably be so by next season. There are several 

 comparatively dwarf species, which would be useful as edgings to beds of the taller 

 kinds, or they would form very pretty groups by themselves for tbe borders ; such 

 are mimatum, gracile, hirsutum, pruino&um and procerum, the first with vermilion 

 coloured flowers, the remainder with blossoms of various shades of purple, and all 

 of them from nine to eighteen inches in height. A new shrubby species, described 

 as very fine, is the P. californicum, but we have not at present any personal 

 knowledge of it. 



