16 ON PLANTS ADAPTED FOR PLANTING IN MASSES. 



begins blooming in June, and continues to the end of the season. 

 I then take up the plants, and preserve them in pots or boxes in 

 the greenhouse, or cool frame through winter. A bed of this 

 lovely plant, growing near the following named species, makes 

 a very pleasing contrast. 



Salvia cardinalis, syn. S. splendens rubra, S. fulgens. Dian- 

 dria, Monogynia. LabiaUe. This very splendid flowering Salvia 

 was first raised in this country, in the gardens of the Earl of 

 Egremont, Petworth House, Sussex, from seed received from 

 Brazil ; and in consequence of its extreme beauty, free flowering, 

 ease of propagation, and its hardy habit, few plants have spread 

 more rapidly and extensively through the country than this. It 

 is a most valuable addition to the ornamental plants of a flower 

 garden, or pleasure ground, and will keep in bloom from June to 

 November, or even later. The plant is readily increased by cut- 

 tings, taking off the young shoots, when about six inches long, 

 cutting them on" close to the mother branch ; they will root very 

 easily at any period of the year, by placing them in moist heat. 

 The cuttings should be inserted as soon after being taken from the 

 old plant as possible, for if kept out of water or soil a short time, 

 they wither and do not often recover. The plan I pursue with 

 this plant is as follows. Strong plants will usually grow about 

 five feet high ; I therefore select a bed of tolerable size, that will 

 correspond with the height of the plant. Having done this, I take 

 the old plants for the centre of the bed, and young plants struck 

 either in autumn or early in spring, for the outer portion of it. 

 These latter plants feather down close to the edge of the bed, 

 which gives the whole a very striking appearance. The soil is 

 composed of one half fresh turfy loam, well enriched, and in 

 order to give this addition to the bed I remove some of the old 

 soil. Fresh soil is very essential, as there will be a much greater 

 profusion of flowers with it than otherwise, it amply repays for the 

 extra trouble. At the end of the season, I take off a lot of cut- 

 tings, and strike them in a frame. The young plants at the side 

 of the bed, I take up and place them closely together in large 

 garden pots, or a box, leaving the plants about half a yard, or two 

 feet high ; these I preserve in a cool frame, or if room, in a cold 

 part of the greenhouse. I planted out a bed of this plant, and 

 pegged them down, at tlie time of planting out early in May. 



