THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



887 



a degree of splendor to that department, and that at a season 

 when few other plants are in flower. They are highly prized by 

 the Chinese, who are supposed to be in possession of upwards of 

 fifty varieties of this plant. To the Horticultural Society we are 

 principally indebted for many of the most splendid varieties 

 with which our gardens are decorated. This plant early at- 

 tracted the notice of that society, who have spared no trouble 

 to bring together nearly forty pretty distinct varieties. The 

 facility with which it is propagated, and being a plant almost 

 sufficiently hardy to stand our winters with little protection, 

 renders it the more valuable, as every one who is in possession 

 of a small garden may indulge in the cultivation of it. At this 

 time, plants originated from cuttings the preceding season 

 should be shifted into larger pots, preparatory to their being 

 placed in their summer situation ; and such plants as may be of 

 greater age should be also shifted at this time. The superabun- 

 dant plants, or the earlier flowering kinds, may now be planted 

 out in the open ground ; many of them in favorable situations 

 will flower in the open borders, and most of the varieties will 

 flower, if trained to a southern wall. In such a way they 

 have a handsome appearance, and in this way they have been 

 successfully cultivated in the Chiswick garden. Where the 

 intention is to reserve them for the green-house, conservatory, 

 or drawing-room, in the months of November and December, 

 when few other plants are in flower, they should now, when 

 shifted, be plunged in finely-sifted coal-ashes in a warm and 

 dry situation, where, during summer, they will only require to 

 be neatly supported with sticks, accordingly as they extend in 

 size, and be liberally supplied with water at their roots. Their 

 flower-buds will here form in October, when they should be 

 taken into a green-house, or other similar shelter, before the 

 evenings become frosty, where they will perfect their flowers, 

 so as to be fit to be removed to decorate the conservatory or 

 drawing-room. By this mode of culture the plants will be- 

 come large, and although profusely covered with flowers, may 

 not be so convenient for the latter purpose, as if they were 

 smaller. Cultivators, therefore, vary their modes of growing 

 them, to suit the purpose for which they may be intended ; 

 and as this plant is of docile habits and rapid growth, a va- 

 riety of ways have been tried to produce bloom upon snmll 



