PENTSTEMONS AND PHLOXES. 



193 



obtained at small cost. Both classes, suffruticosa, the early 

 blooming, and decussata, the later blooming varieties, can be 

 cultivated by those who cannot afford ranges of glass houses, or 

 who do not care to have such in their garden. There is still 

 plenty of room for improvement, both in the size, form, and 

 colour of the flowers ; and this is most likely to be best effected 

 by amateurs taking up the work and improving the plants by 

 cross-fertilisation. One of the greatest charms of gardening is 

 the pleasure to be derived from watching the development of the 

 flowers of seedlings. It is necessary to obtain the best varieties 

 in cultivation to start with, for only in this way can the work be 

 carried on from the point where our predecessors were obliged to 

 leave off. 



While I was engaged in writing this paper a note came 

 from our Secretary, the Rev. W. Wilks, in which he says : 

 " Pentstemons are perfectly hardy with me. I have never known 

 the winter to kill a single plant, but they are short-lived, and die 

 out of old age every third, or at most every fourth, year. I find 

 the best way is take cuttings every alternate year and replant." 



Discussion. 



Mr. A. Dean was of opinion that very beautiful Pentstemons 

 could be obtained by the ordinary methods of cultivation, with- 

 out having recourse to special means. He did not think it was 

 necessary to sow the seeds in peaty soil, as they germinated by 

 hundreds if sown in ordinary garden-mould. When the time for 

 planting arrived there was no difficulty in obtaining a good 

 supply of vigorous plants, which would in due course give a fine 

 display of bloom for three months. He recommended treating 

 the Pentstemon as an annual. Exceptionally good varieties 

 might be propagated by means of cuttings, and these should be 

 put 5, 10, or 15 in a pot and wintered in a cold house. Mr. 

 Dean was astonished at the recommendation of staking Pent- 

 stemons, and thought it was quite unnecessary if the plants were 

 well grown, as they would then be vigorous enough to require no 

 tying up. 



In regard to Phloxes, Mr. Dean said cuttings would root 

 freely in a cold frame, would grow rapidly, and produce gigantic 

 heads of bloom. He called attention to the magnificent 

 display of these plants which was to be seen at Chiswick. 



D 



