198 
MIMULUS CARDINALIS. 
preserve them safe until the following spring-. To our satisfaction, the plants grew 
rapidly, and shortly sent out four or five strong branches from the axils of the lower- 
most leaves ; perceiving them to be luxuriant growers, attention was paid to potting 
and to the selection of soil, so that nothing was wanting to render them healthy 
and strong. Thus progressing, they continued without intermission from the early 
part of February until the beginning of June, when the plants had reached the height 
of seven feet from the base of the stem to the extreme point of the leading shoot ; 
and in diameter, the lowermost branches measured six 
feet, and the whole was from top to bottom thickly deco- 
rated with their singularly formed and pretty bright 
scarlet blossoms ; these elegantly contrast with the pale 
yellowish-green leaves, which produce an effect that 
cannot but prove a valuable accession to our flower- 
garden ornaments. 
Plants plunged in a border in the flower-garden about 
May last, are now upwards of five feet high, and being 
in full bloom, make a good show ; still we may expect 
them to depart on the approach of winter, and their 
place to be supplied with newly raised seedlings. Such 
as are supplied with plenty of pot room and soil com- 
posed of loam and leaf-mould, and the pots allowed 
to stand in feeders constantly full of water, besides 
supplying them well in the usual way on the surface of the soil^ will grow and 
flower beautifully and make noble ornaments ; or young plants, raised in the autumn 
or early in the spring, will, if planted in the flower-garden, make a gay appearance 
in the autumn. 
We observe the colours of the flowers to vary on diff'erent plants ; the flowers 
of some being of a rich bright scarlet, while others assume a more dull and yellow 
aspect ; also, in an instance or two, have we met with flowers having a very dark 
eye : from these minor difl'erences, the attentive amateur may expect to raise some 
handsome hybrids, by crossing with M. roseus, variegatus, &c. It is most probable 
that in the winter, it will require a dry part of the greenhouse, possibly a cold frame 
may be too low a temperature for it to be safe in. 
The generic name will be found explained at page 30, Vol. I. The specific 
name cardinalis was given by its lamented discoverer, on account of the brilliant 
scarlet of its flowers. 
Our drawing was made from a plant that flowered in the greenhouse at Chats- 
worth about July last. 
