NOVEMBER. 523 



more brilliant flower than the much vaunted M. superba." It 

 is a native of Senegal, Congo, and other places on the African 

 coast. 



The M. superba we saw very finely in flower at Mr. 

 Hogg's, two weeks ago. It is a fine autumn-flowering plant, 

 with a lily-like aspect, and a great addition to the conserva- 

 tory in September. (Bot. Mag., Sept.) 



340. Sa'lvia porphyraVa Decaisne. Bright Red-flower- 

 ed Sage. (Labiatese.) Texas. (?) 



A greenhouse plant; growing ore foot liigh; with deep red flowrrs; .-ippe; ring nil sun^mer; in- 

 creased by ciutings; grown in nood rich loam. Bot. Mil?., IbJu, pi. 4939. 



A very neat and pretty species, which we have had in 

 bloom all summer, and have before noticed in our pages. It 

 is very dwarf in habit, with a neat foliage, resembling that of 

 the common ground Ivy, and it flowers profusely all summer. 

 For bedding out it proves one of the best of all the Salvias. 

 (Bot. Mag., Sept.) 



The Hyacinth. — As the season has arrived when remarks on this justly- 

 admired spring flower may be acceptable to many of your readers, I there- 

 fore beg to give them the benefit of my experience in its culture, which, if 

 followed, will enable them to produce flowers very different from tiiose 

 usually met with. In the first place, much, very much, depends upon the 

 quality of the bulbs, which should be perfectly ripe, and the sooner obtained 

 after their arrival the better, for I consider it hin-hly objectionable to expose 

 them much to the air, except just to throw off any moisture they may have 

 attained during their transmission. Always select the largest and best 

 shaped bulbs, rejecting as a rule those that are loose in texture and small ; 

 but I find generally that if the base of the bulb is sound and ripe, the other 

 portion can be depended upon, and, in fact, this is the only guide to follow 

 in regard to such kinds as Porcelain Sceptre, Prince Albert, and many oth- 

 ers of the best sorts which have wretched-looking bulbs ; indeed, so much 

 so, that I have seen them thrown aside as useless ; it is therefore best for 

 the amateur to leave the selection to those who are well acquainted with 

 their properties, until by experience he can trust his own judgment. The 

 compost is another important point ; this should consist of an equal portion 



