100 ON THE CULTURE OE SALVIAS AS BORDER PLANTS. 



venture to offer a few remarks : as there is no class of plants more 

 beautiful, nor of easier culture, if rightly managed ; and if turned 

 out in a clump, with the sorts well contrasted as to size and colour, 

 nothing can exceed its beauty at this season of the year, when 

 there are so few other flowers in bloom. I have had the following 

 sorts in bloom, more or less, this four months past, and now (the 

 middle of November) they are most of them in full bloom — viz. 

 Salvia splendens, formosa, pseudo coccinea, Grahamii, Chaeme- 

 droides, involucrata, cardinalis, and Doliestachya ; all of which, 

 with the exception of the three first sorts, are hardy enough to 

 bear a mild winter in the South of England, in a sheltered situa- 

 tion. But as it respects the general propagation of this beauliiul 

 genus of plants, I cannot do better than refer your readers to the 

 advice given by Mr. Short, in Article V., page 9, Vol. I., " On 

 the Culture of Salvia Africanus," as the same treatment is appli- 

 cable to nearly all the sorts, where there is the requisite conveni- 

 encies, although Mr. Short considers it a treatment peculiar to 

 itself. I have never found any difficulty in cultivating nearly all 

 the sorts by this mode. 



I presume there are but few gardeners at the present day, with 

 those conveniences about them, who have not a knowledge of this 

 old system ; but I think it behoves every one, not only to rise far 

 above the level of that system, but also to simplify the art of 

 Gardening as much as possible (where their interest is not at stake) ; 

 so as to bring it within the reach of every industrious cottager, 

 that his little garden may be decorated with those more splendid 

 flowers, as well as that of his richer neighbour : for all the above- 

 mentioned sorts can be abundantly obtained, by adopting precisely 

 the same plan as recommended by me for Fuchsias, in Article IV., 

 page 197, Vol. I., excepting involucrata, which is herbaceous, 

 and can be easily obtained by parting the roots in the month of 

 May : so that, by the above treatment, every cottager, as well as 

 every gardener, may, without the aid of a hot-bed, obtain a suffi- 

 cient number of plants to put in pots, and keep in his frame or 

 window, as a stock of reserve through the winter months ; for, if 

 in case the winter should prove severe, there will be always a young 

 supply to fill up the vacancies in the month of May. 



I should be much obliged to you, or any of your correspon- 

 dents, lor information as to whether the Salvia in the drawing here 



