ii4 THE UNHEATED GREENHOUSE 



beautiful species of Pentstemon, not very often met with, may 

 be added to the biennial list. P. Cobsea is a Texan plant 

 which blooms naturally late in autumn and has long, shining, 

 deep green leaves and spikes of bell-shaped lilac or white 

 flowers. Being very viscid they attract insects to such a 

 degree out of doors that their beauty is sometimes marred by 

 the small victims which cannot get free from the sticky trap, 

 but they make very fine pot plants. P. Murrayanus is quite 

 distinct from the last, having glaucous leaves and bright 

 scarlet tubular flowers, and there are garden varieties dis- 

 tinguished, as Grandiflora, of different shades of rose and 

 violet. Both these species, which are quite different to the 

 well-known border Pentstemons, do better sown in early 

 autumn and protected during the winter either in a cold 

 frame or greenhouse, as they are somewhat tender, but are 

 well worth growing by those who do not begrudge time and 

 trouble. 



As a garden experiment, which probably has never been 

 attempted, it would be interesting to prove what could be 

 done in the way of cold greenhouse decoration by the use of 

 annuals and biennials alone. To this end I will gather the 

 hints given above into four distinct rules : 



1. Pot off singly while still in the seed-leaf. 



2. Shift several times into pots a size or two larger than the 

 last, to encourage root- growth. 



3. Use rich soil and water often with weak soot-water, 

 which is a good and safe stimulant. 



4. Pick off all early buds until the plant is sufficiently 

 strong to support a luxuriant bloom, and remove all withered 

 flowers as they fade, to prevent the formation of seed. Some- 

 times it may also be desirable to pinch out the point of the 

 leading shoot, so that laterals may be thrown out below to 

 make a shapely plant. 



The successful cultivation of annuals is, in fact, a fine 



