Stove and Greenhouse Plants and Flowers 205 



blue Violet-like flowers, which have given it the name of the " Usambara 

 Violet". There are a few forms, the best being grandiflora. They are 

 all easily raised from, seeds sown in heat, anol treated in the same way 

 as Gloxinias (fig. 299). 



Salvia (SAGE). Out of some 450 species of Sage there are only two 

 or three species largely grown for decorative work. S. splendens is a 

 Brazilian plant, 2-3 ft. high, remarkable for its brilliant scarlet flowers, 

 which are produced in abundance. There are several fine varieties of it, 

 easily raised from cuttings in sandy soil in spring, and plunged in a 

 hotbed till rooted; or many of them may be raised from seeds sown 

 at the same period. Some of the best forms are grandiflora, Glory of 

 Stuttgart, and Glory of Zurich the latter being perhaps the best and 

 most popular for bedding-out work. It is a magnificent plant of bushy 

 habit, and produces its flaming scarlet blossoms in profusion during the 

 summer months. A new yellow-flowered variety has recently appeared, 

 and has yet to make its way. Other scarlet-flowered Sages are coccinea, 

 elegans, fulgens, gesnercefolia, Heeri, involucrata Bethelli, rutilans, &c., 

 all of which require the same treatment as S. splendens. 



Amongst the best blue-flowered Salvias are S. azurea, 3-6 ft. high, and 

 S. patens, 2-3 ft. high, both very deep in colour, but with flowers more 

 loosely borne than in the scarlet forms. 



Amongst hardy Salvias, S. argentea, with large downy white leaves 

 and branching trusses of white flowers, is noteworthy. 



Sanchezia nobilis. An ornamental foliage plant, from tropical America, 

 with large deep-green leaves having the mid-rib and main veins bright 

 yellow. Flowers tubular, yellow. Requires loamy soil, and is raised from 

 cuttings. 



Solanum. Of the many species known, S. capsicastrum, from Brazil, 

 is the market grower's plant par excellence. Before and after Christmas 

 it figures conspicuously on the grower's stands, the brilliant scarlet berries 

 as large as cherries being particularly attractive amongst the deep-green 

 leaves. There are numerous seedling variations. Growers, as a rule, 

 prefer to raise their plants from cuttings obtained from old cut -down 

 plants that have been started into growth. Several cuttings are inserted 

 in gritty soil in spring and plunged in bottom heat. They soon root, and 

 are then potted up singly in small pots. When well established the tips 

 of the shoots are pinched cut to induce a bushy habit. They are next 

 moved into 5-in. or 6-in. pots, being potted firmly in a mixture of good 

 loam with a little sand and leaf mould. During the summer months they 

 are grown in frames or airy houses. This causes the pollen to float about 

 and come in contact with the stigmas, thus ensuring a good crop of berries. 

 The plants are syringed daily until the flowers appear, and this keeps 

 the foliage clean and encourages growth, and also keeps Red Spider in 

 check. About September the marble -like berries are green and con- 

 spicuous, and from this onwards a little weak liquid manure is often 

 given to keep the foliage deep green in colour, and to increase the size 



