536 



GENERAL REVIEW. 



propagated either from seeds or cuttings of the young growth, 

 which may be struck readily in May or June in a cool frame, if 



covered with a hand- 

 light. The cuttings 

 should be inserted in 

 a thin layer of sand. 

 Some of the blue 

 or purple flowered 

 Californian species 

 are very pretty. The 

 florists' varieties of 

 Pentstemon have 

 been derived from 

 P. gentianoides, a na- 

 tive of Mexico ; and, 

 according to son^e au- 

 thors, it has been hy- 

 bridised with P. Co- 

 bcea and^P. Hartwegi. 

 Seed germinates rea- 

 dily sown in spring. 



Here again con- 

 siderable improve- 

 ment might possibly 

 be effected by cross- 

 ing the best of the 

 new seedlings with 

 P. Palmerii, P. hu- 

 milis, or other of the 

 recently - introduced 

 Californian species. 

 The best varieties of 

 Pentstemon rival the 

 tropical Gesneras in 

 profusion of flowers 

 and brilliant colouring; and our native Foxglove, a nobler 

 plant than either, and more hardy withal, is comparatively an 

 unknown plant in our gardens. If some intelligent florist 

 would but take up the improvement of the Foxglove, D. pur- 

 purea and its varieties would soon become one of the hand- 

 somest of all hardy garden flowers. 



Veronica ( Veronicas or Speedwells}. A large group of orna- 

 mental plants, principally natives of Europe, New Zealand, 

 and other temperate climes. They are naturally divided into 

 two distinct groups, the herbaceous European section being 



Hybrid Pentstemons. 



