74 On the Cidiivaiion of the Lisianthus Russelliayius. 



in a growing state, by constant attentive watering, will con- 

 tinue in bloom till October ; but if once allowed to get too 

 dry, the flowers will speedily fall, and their beauty wholly 

 destroyed. 1 have propagated them from cuttings, taken off 

 in spring, but I think plants so produced, are always more 

 stunted in appearance, the flowers small and soon drop off. 

 New Havefi, January I5th, 1849. 



It is true, as Mr. Saunders states, that this most beautiful 

 plant is rarely seen in our collections; and why it is not, is a 

 question that may well be asked. As a summer flowering 

 plant, there are few which equal it, and fewer still which excel 

 it. We apprehend, therefore, that it is mainly owing to a gener- 

 al impression, that it is very difficult of cultivation. The seeds 

 are small, and require careful treatment to vegetate them, 

 but, beyond this, there is no very great difficulty in producing 

 good plants. Mr. Saunders's article is consequently just in 

 good season, and to the purpose. If his directions arc follow- 

 ed, this most showy plant may be made the ornament of 

 every garden, whether there is a greenhouse or not, for we 

 have seen it thriving finely, plunged out in the open border, 

 displaying at least twenty of its large, deep blue, cup-shaped 

 flowers at once. What adds to its value is, that it may be 

 kept in bloom from July till Christmas. 



In the Jow'iial of the London Horticultural Society, for 

 October last, (Vol. III. p. 308,) is an excellent article upon 

 the growth of this beautiful plant, which Ave have transferred 

 to our pages: taken in common with that of Mr. Saunders, the 

 amateur is in possession of all the information he need to pos- 

 sess, to grow this fine plant. Mr Green, the author of the arti- 

 cle, is one of the most successful cultivators around London, 

 and has received numerous premiums for the fine specimens 

 of plants exhibited before the London Horticultural Society. 



We had nearly forgotten to mention, that, two years ago, 

 we had three or four small plants in one pot, all we had raised 

 out of several seeds, — which, in order to have them under 

 our eye, were wintered in the parlor, where they were pre- 

 served in fine health. Early in spring, they were potted off 

 singly, into pots, in the same soil recommended by Mr. Saun- 

 ders, and they succeeded finely, and gave an abundance of 

 flowers. — Ed. 



