514 General Notices. 



Stunted bits of the young wood are more suitable for cuttings than 

 healthy fast growing pieces, as the former root more certainly, and form 

 closer jointed specimens tlian the latter, and generally flower more freely. 

 Plant them in light sandy soil, cover with a bell glass, and place them in a 

 gentle bottom-heat, where in a few weeks they will be ready for potting off- 

 Place them in a shady close frame after potting, until they have become 

 well established ; and stop the principal shoots in order to induce a bushy 

 habit of growth. A situation near the glass where they can be protected 

 from frost and damp will suit during winter. 



Where it is desired to have large specimens in 15-inch pots, the plants 

 should be in 7-inch pots, and well established before winter ; and should be 

 placed in a close frame, with a moist growing temperature from 40'^ to 50° 

 early in spring; but if moderate-sized plants only are required, the warmest 

 end of the greenhouse will advance them sufficiently fast. Keep them well 

 supplied with pot-room, and persevere in stopping and pegging out the 

 shoots. They should be ready for shifting into their flowering pots in June, 

 and when established in these they will be benefited by being placed in an 

 airy situation out of doors, where they will be freely exposed to the sun's 

 rays. This will greatly assist in securing short jointed thoroughly-ripened 

 wood, which will flower more satisfactorily in spring than if the last growth 

 were made under glass in a moist atmosphere, where it would be improp- 

 erly matured. Manure-water in a clear state may be given two or three 

 times a week during the growing season with advantage ; but this should 

 be discontinued when the object is to ripen the wood. Some attention will 

 be requisite to secure handsomely-formed specimens ; the shoots should be 

 pegged out in spring, and stopped, with a view to induce them to make a 

 compact growth. They must not be stopped later than July, otherwise the 

 flower spikes will be small, and the plants will not present the splendid ap- 

 pearance which they do when properly prepared. A cool, light situation, 

 free from frost, with a very sparing supply of water, merely enough to keep 

 the plants from flagging, and a free circulation of air on mild days during 

 winter, will check all tendency to growth, and suit better than kinder treat- 

 ment at this season. 



After Christmas the plants will be easily induced to bloom, by being 

 placed in a temperature of about 50^, and liberally supplied with water at 

 the root; or they may be placed in the closest.part of the greenhouse, where 

 they will come into flower in March, and will form brilliant objects for 

 some six weeks. While in flower, water with manure-water, and admit air 

 freely on mild days, and sufiicient at all times to prevent injury from damp. 

 When the beauty of the plants is over, they may be closely cut back, and 

 placed in a cool part of the house, until they can be set out of doors, and, 

 with a liberal supply of manure-water and a moderate shift, they will form 

 useful specimens for blooming next season ; but young plants are generally 

 preferable, and if there is a stock of these, the old ones may be thrown to 

 the rubbish heap. 



A strong rich soil suits this Salvia well, such as one-half mellow fibry 

 loam, one-fourth rotted leaves, and one-fourth thoroughly decayed cow- 



