FLOWER-GARDENING. 113 



a select assortment of which, carefully cultivated, will produce 

 blossoms from January to December. 



Rosmarinus, Rosemary. A fragrant, half-hardy, slender- 

 leaved plant, which has been held in great esteem for ages. 

 In some parts of Europe it is customary to distribute sprigs 

 among the guests at weddings and funerals. 



Ruella. A desirable plant, of which there are several spe 

 cies ; they produce purple or scarlet tunnel-shaped flowers 

 from December to March. 



Salvia, Mexican Sage. A free-blooming plant, producing, 

 in the different species, scarlet and blue flowers in spiked 

 whorls ; cuttings of which, if taken from stock plants in the 

 green-house early in spring, and planted in good garden soil, 

 will embellish the borders three or four months of the sum 

 mer. 



Sempervivum arboreum, Tree House Leek. A succulent 

 plant, similar to the common house leek, on a dwarfish stem ; 

 by some admired as an evergreen. 



Stapclia. A genus of dwarf succulent plants, producing 

 beautiful purple, striped, freckled, and star-like flowers, within 

 six inches of the surface ; in its varieties from May to No 

 vember. 



Stevia serrata, Vanilla-scented Stevia. This plant, although 

 usually cultivated as an annual, is worthy of green-house cul 

 ture, from its affording fragrant and ornamental materials for 

 bouquets the whole winter. 



Strelitzia regina, Queen s Strelitz. A beautiful dwarf plant, 

 producing from a stalk, from one to two feet long, several flow 

 ers of a oright yellow, contrasted with blue, from May to Sep 

 tember. 



Tecoma capensis. A perennial plant, producing orange- 

 colored trumpet-flowers in clusters, very similar to the Bigoma 

 tribe, towards the end of summer. 



Thea, Tea. Of this celebrated Chinese plant, which sup 

 plies a great portion of the human family with their domestic 

 beverage, there are two varieties, Thea viridis and Thea bohca. 



