CUPHEA 35 



have elegant foliage as well as fine Dahlia-like flowers to 

 recommend them (see Plate III). They must be raised 

 in March, in a temperature of about 65°, potted singly as soon 

 as large enough, and planted out at the end of May or early 

 in June, after being properly hardened off. Unless so treated 

 they do not flower sufficiently early to be effective. For 

 borders or for large beds they are capital subjects, and they 

 are charming as cut flowers. 



The older forms grow 3I feet high, but the newer varieties 

 are 3 feet to 6 feet high. Crimson King, Rose Queen, and 

 White Queen are descriptive names ; Early Dawn is white 

 and pink. C. sulphureus, \\ foot to 2 feet, light yellow ; and 

 C. tenuifoliusy 2 feet, purple, are other species. 



CUPHEA 



*' Mexican Cigar Flower " 



Chiefly natives of Mexico, there are a few species of 

 Cuphea {Lythracece) useful in beds and borders, but they all 

 need a sunny position and rather poor soil. They should be 

 treated as Half-hardy Annuals, though a few are doubtfully 

 hardy. They make pleasing, bushy plants with pendulous 

 flowers. The best annual kinds are C. cequipetala (syn. C. 

 ocimoides), 2 feet, purple ; C. lanceolata (syn. C. silenoides), i\ 

 foot, purplish-blue ; and C. Zimapatiii, 2 feet, dark purple. 



DATURA 



'< Thorn Apple " 



Of bold, strong growth, and carrying large trumpet-shaped 

 flowers, the annual Daturas {Solanacece) are fine for sub- 

 tropical gardening, for border groups, or for pot culture. 



