40 General Notices. 



97. Castille^ja LixHosPEUMorDEs II. B. Lithospfirmum-like 

 Castilleja. {Sc/uophularidcea.) Mexico. 



A sreenhouse plant ; growing eiihteen inclies lii^h ; wilh scarlet flowers; appearing in sum- 

 mer; increased by seeds ; grown in liaht ricli soil. Flore des Serres, pi. 371, 1S48. 



A very pretty greenhouse plant, suitable for bedding out, 

 like the antirrhinums, and others of the same natural family. 

 This Castilleja has an erect stem, terminated Avith a spike of 

 beautiful orange scarlet flowers. The plants are easily raised 

 from the seeds, which are abundantly produced. {Flore des 

 Serres, July.) 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Art. I. General Polices. 



Pelargoniums. — During the past week, I received a box of pelargoni- 

 ums from that indefatigable raiser of new varieties, Mr. Beck, of Isle- 

 worth, and was highly gratified at the masterly way in which they were 

 packed up. Although the plants had been a whole day incarcerated in 

 very narrow limits, when I released them from bondage every leaf assumed 

 its natural attitude, and looked as fresh as if the box had never taken the 

 place of the greenhouse. By means of little wicker baskets, made in the 

 neighborhood of Isleworth, the plants travel without the least injury, and 

 the mode of conveyance should be adopted by nurserymen. The extra 

 expense and trouble will be more than compensated for by the satisfaction 

 given to the purchaser. 



Having set this little collection of flowers at liberty, I looked at them 

 with great interest, and began to inquire in what way I could best keep 

 them in health during the winter. They had evidently enjoyed every ad- 

 vantage, and exhibited robust health ; the fresh green of the foliage, and 

 its freedom from spots indicating the former possession of proper light and 

 temperature. Not possessing a greenhouse myself, I knew that the change 

 would be felt by my newly acquired plants, unless I considered their wants, 

 and employed a little petting, to accustom them to their more humble home. 

 Two plans suggested themselves ; one, to keep them in a pit out of doors, 

 the other, to place them in the window of the sitting-room. A pit is a 

 most eligible place for pelargoniums, if properly defended from frosts. I 

 have kept a large number in health during a long winter in a garden frame, 

 protected as described in former papers. In long frosts, no air must be admit- 

 ted, except in the middle of the day, if the atmosphere is not lower than the 

 freezing point : but, on all occasions, when there is no danger of frosts 

 attacking the plants, air and light must be plentifully supplied. 



