SALVIA. ii 



For the early spring'-time, or more especially for the 

 month of Februaryj there is no grander conservatory plant 

 at command than the Bolivian sago here figured, the book 

 name of which is Salvia lioliciaiia. It is a native of n(jllvia, 

 introduced to Europe by Van Ilouttc, of Ghent. Although 

 coming from a hot climate, it docs not require stove cultiva- 

 tion, as it is a mountain plant, found on the Bolivian Andes 

 at elevations of 1U,0U0 to 12,(100 feet, a robust-growing 

 shrub, producing gorgeous panicles of flowers of the most 

 brilliant crimson colo\ir. It is prolialdy the same ixH Sulviu 

 nihe^ceaa, or if not, the two are but slightly different forms 

 of one and the same species. That is a matter of no great 

 conseiiucnce in the present connection. 



In the cultivation of this fine salvia a certain golden rule, 

 often enforced by writers, and as often ignored by amateur 

 cultivat(,>rs, must be strictly observed. A thousand 'exam- 

 ples might be cited in illustration of the imjiortance of this 

 golden rule, which consists in the raising of a new stock of 

 young plants every year. This rule is of special importance 

 in the case of pansies, chrysanthemums, calcenlarias, cine^ 

 rarias, jietunias, and salvias, for it rarely i>ajs to keep old 

 plants of any of them. In the month of J\Iarch cuttings of 

 salvias may be easily rooted on a mild hotljcd or in a warm 

 house, and it is good practice to strike a few in the course 

 of the summer or autumn, more es[)ecially of such as it is 

 intended to plant out the next year. 



Pot cultvire from first to last suits this plant perfectly, 

 and the eomjDost may be somewhat rich for it, as it is of a 

 free leafy habit, and produces large spikes of flowers when 

 liberally nourished. The young jilants must be shilted on 

 as they fill their pots witli roots, but care must be taken not 

 to give them at any time an excess of pot room, and the last 



