ON THE CULTURE OF LUPINUS MUTABILIS. 29 



hot-bed ; the best cuttings for the purpose are young shoots about three 

 inches long, taking them oil" close to the old wood, these are potted off 

 when struck, singly into small GO-sized pots, and are kept growing in 

 the greenhouse during summer. 



About the end of April, or first week in May, if danger from frost is 

 not apprehended, I turn the plants out of the pots with entire balls, into 

 flower beds having a very rich light soil. The Bouvardia triphylla 

 grows higher than the other sort, I therefore plant two or three rows at 

 the middle of a bed »viih that kind, and the other rows with the Jacciuin- 

 nii, this arrangement of the plants gives the bed a very superior appear- 

 ance to a flat surface. When I plant only one sort in a bed, I plant the 

 tallest in the middle, and lesser ones at the sides; this is easily eflected 

 by cutting in the old plants more or less as required for the purpose. 

 Plenty of water i^ given the plants during the summer season. When 

 at the end of the summer frost is apprehended, I take up the plants out 

 of the beds, retaining all the soil and roots I can with each plant, then 

 pot them in a good rich soil, and after being well watered, I take them 

 into the greenhouse. Here they generally flower till the end of the year. 

 When I wish to increase the number of plants, I put a few of the old 

 plants into a little heat, cither in a stove or hot bed, about the end of 

 March ; when the shoots have pushed a desirable length for the purpose, 

 ihcy are taken ofl'and otherwise treated as above described. 

 Feb. 22d, 1833. -^ohn Ferguson. 



ARTICLE TV— Oil cuUivaiinfj the Lupinus mutdbilis. 

 By Mr. F. F. Asiiford, Head Gardener to P. L. 

 Brooke, Esq., Mere Hall, Knutsford, Cheshire. 



The Lupinus mutii1)ilis was introduced into this country in 181!1. It 

 grows from four to six feet high, and spreads proporliouably. The flow- 

 ers arc of a pale blue at first, changing to yellow. Whether the beauty 

 of the flowers, their fragrance, or the handsome foliage of the plant be 

 regarded, each alike renders it highly deserving of general cultivation. 



In the mode of treatment I pursue, it becomes a most beautiful shrub 

 for planting out singly upon l.iwns, flowering for several successive years. 

 Humbly hoping that a description of my practice may be in some degree 

 useful to a portion of the readers of the Florieultimil Cahlnct, I transmit 

 it for insertion therein. 



In the bc-itiuing of March 1 sow the seeds in pots of good rich light 

 soil, plunging them up to their riins in a liaiiie upon a fresh hot bed, 

 keeping iLc lights closed, and shaded when the sun is powerful, till the 



