LISIANTHUS. 309 



the limb is emerald green. Our illustration, which is con- 

 siderably reduced, gives but a poor idea (in the absence of 

 colour) of the marvellous beauty of this, which the late 

 Dr. Lindley characterised as " one of the noblest plants in 

 existence." It will thrive in the greenhouse or intermediate 

 house. Native of the province of Pamplona, in New Grenada, 

 at 10—11,000 feet altitude. 



L. Russellianiis. — This fine old plant is a biennial. The 

 seed should be sown early in March, on the top of the soU, 

 and should be covered either with a flat piece of glass or a 

 bell-glass until they germinate. When the plants are about 

 two months old, they should be potted singly, and placed in 

 a genial bottom heat until about the middle of October, 

 when they may be moved into a warm corner of the green- 

 house, close to the glass ; while here, water must be applied 

 very carefully, a sharp look-out being kept to remove every 

 particle of decaying leaves, as they are very apt to damp off. 

 In spring they should be moved into summer quarters, when 

 they may get a nice bottom heat and be shifted into larger 

 pots ; and with this treatment, by about the end of June or 

 beginning of July, the plants will be covered with a profusion 

 of large cup-shaped deep blue flowers. The soil best adapted 

 for them is a mixture of one part light loam, two parts peat, 

 and one part made up of well-deftomposed manure and good 

 leaf mould, to which a good portion of sand must be added. 

 L. Russellianus is not easily grown into a good specimen, but 

 is one of those plants that will test the care and patience of 

 the cultivator. All the trouble that can be bestowed upon it 

 will be, however, abundantly repaid by its gorgeous beauty 

 when in flower. Native of Mexico. 



