118 SALVIA CANADENSIS. 



loam, and, owing to the abundant rains of the last few weeks, it has succeeded well, 

 but in dry seasons it would probably become Aveak unless freely watered. 



At present it has shown no disposition to ripen seeds, nor do cuttings strike very 

 freely; it may, however, be readily increased by division of the root in spring, just 

 as the plant commences its growth. Its flowering season commences about mid- 

 summer, and it continues in bloom until the middle of August, or even later ; it not 

 unfrequently happens, especially in wet seasons, or if the plant is copiously 

 watered, that a second crop of shoots is thrown up by the roots after the earliest 

 flowers begin to fade, and a succession of bloom is thus maintained until late in 

 the season. 



All that we know of its history may be comprised in a few words. Our specimen 

 was obtained last season from Messrs. Garraway, Mayes, and Co. of the Durdham 

 Down Nursery, Bristol, under the name of nova ; but we have since ascertained that 

 its true name is that given at the head of the present notice. When, or by whom 

 it was first introduced to this country, we have been unable to discover. The plant 

 is by no means commonly kept, the only parties to our knowledge in possession of 

 it are Messrs. Garraway and Co., and Messrs. A. Henderson and Co. of the Pine 

 Apple Nursery, Edgeware Road, London. Its price is very moderate. It is said 

 to be a good bee-flower, as, like most of the Salvias, the corolla secretes a clear sweet 

 fluid at its base ; we have not observed, however, more than an occasional visitant 

 from the hives upon our plant. 



"We have been fortunate enough to obtain recently several of the older hardy 

 Salvias, some of which will, we hope, prove sufficiently interesting to deserve 

 figuring, or at least noticing in an early number. Of those which have already 

 flowered we may notice the 



S. hia?is (gaping sage), a shrubby species with veiy pretty flowers, about an inch 

 long, of a delicate pale violet tint, the centre of the lower tip being yellowish 

 white, spotted with violet. It is of dwarf habit, and we believe quite hardy. It 

 may be obtained of Messrs. Low and Co. of the Clapton Nursery for a small sum, 

 and is well worth procuring. 



S. rugosa is another neglected plant, of taller and larger growth than the 

 preceding. Its pink and white flowers are borne in long spikes, and are of 

 a very pleasing character. Although a Cape species, it is hardy, and may be 

 had cheaply of Messrs. Henderson of the Pine Apple Nursery. 



S. nemorosa is less rare than the two previous species, but is by no means 

 common. It grows about three feet high, and produces long spikes of flowers, 

 of a similar tint to those of Canadensis, but rather larger. It is very hardy, and 

 if cut down when its first flowers are faded, will produce a second series of shoots. 



S. verticillata is an interesting species of a hardy character, with blue flowers 

 of medium size. It usual height in good soil is about two feet. It is in 



