In 
CULTIVATION AND ANALYSIS OF PLANTS. 
in color from them. The various markings make these flowers to rank with the most 
beautiful treasures of the floral kingdom, while they are by no means deficient in fragrance. 
As a low-spreading plant, the P. Drummondii is no contemptible rival to the far-famed 
and longer-known Verbena. It even possesses some attractions that give it a decided 
advantage over that popular flower; for instance, it is less subject to insects and not so 
dependent on, moisture, though it is by no means indifferent to attention in this respect. 
As a plant for bedding out in large or small quantities, it can scarcely be surpassed, as it 
blooms early and continuously through the whole summer and fall until frost. In large 
masses it makes the most brilliant and at the same time the most delicate of flower-beds, 
while the ease with which it may be cultivated should make it everybody’s flower. 
For early blooming it is best to sow the seed in a shallow box only two or three 
inches deep, placed where the seedlings can have some protection from the occasional 
inclemency of the weather in early spring. It is, however, hardy, and accommodating 
enough to dispense with such attentions, absolutely requiring only to have its seed sown 
in any garden soil, but the less attention the later the flowers. It will propagate itself 
freely by scattering its own seed when fully ripe. To collect the seed of the P. Drum- 
mondii, it is necessary to gather the pods when a little more than half ripe, or when they 
have begun to turn a yellowish brown. They should then be spread out for four or five 
days in some dry, airy place, to complete the ripening process. Where they are allowed 
to sow themselves, the ground should not be disturbed in spring, requiring only to be 
raked free of rubbish and overlaid with a mixture of half common earth and half manure, 
to the depth of about an inch. This will save considerable trouble in the matter of dig- 
ging, but will be attended by some extra labor in thinning out. For those, however, who 
wish to make the most of the Phloxes, the best method is to sow the seed, as already 
recommended, every year, and dig the soil, where they are to bloom, to a spade’s depth, 
enriching it at the same time with the best manure at hand. As house plants they are 
not desirable, as they show best in open beds or borders. 
nature-flower, it is difficult to determine in what respect this plant is 
more entitled to that name than a hundred others. The species most 
in cultivation is denominated P. albicans, from the Latin @/déco, I make 
\ white, because of its abundance of white flowers. It belongs to the 
Nightshade family, and is much grown as a house ornament. The 
white flowers, which are about an inch in diameter, grow in thick clusters in all 
the axils, and emit a pleasant fragrance. They are much used on public occasions, 
as at births, marriages and, funerals, in baptismal bouquets, bridal wreaths, and 
mortuary chaplets. The Physianthus is a good climber, covering a window-frame 
in a short time, yielding itself to the owner’s wishes, and readily assuming such 
shape as may be desired. Outdoors in warm latitudes the plants bloom freely throughout 
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