94 THE GAEDENER'S COMPANION 



flower, I think, in which you can find such infinite 

 variety of colours, and colours which it is so im- 

 possible so describe, for they are so shaded, so shot, 

 and so beautifully marked and veined with gold, that 

 one cannot define them, but every one will agree that 

 they are truly beautiful, and are at the same time 

 perfectly easy to cultivate. The old-fashioned way 

 was to sow them under glass and bring them up 

 in pots to be put out in the borders, but any one 

 who has tried, will, I am sure, agree with me that 

 you get far better and stronger plants by sowing 

 them in the open in May or early June, and trans- 

 plant them if you wish ; but to my mind they are 

 never so beautiful as when they are seen in a large 

 mass together, if you can find a nice corner to give 

 them, facing west if possible, so that the setting sun 

 lights up their beautiful colours. They grow two 

 feet high, but do not branch widely, so the plants 

 may be left pretty close together, and should be 

 supported by short bits of pea-sticks stuck among 

 them. Like most other annuals they enjoy rich soil, 

 and will well repay trouble in attending to them. 



Salvia horminum. The annual Salvia hor- 

 minum, variety "Blue Beard," is an easily grown 

 plant reaching twelve to eighteen inches high, each 



