OPERATIONS FOR SEPTEMBER. 
191 
than a foot bigb, and are very small when compared with its general character. 
Yellow, brown, and greenish-white, are the predominant colours in them. The 
species is only worthy of cultivation where all the others are possessed, and a care- 
ful selection of the best kinds is not attempted or desired. 
Salvia linarioIdes. This new^ species is blossoming in the collection of 
Messrs. Henderson, Pine- Apple Place. With small and slightly glaucous foliage, 
it has Jiglit blue flowers, the centre of which is of a nearly white ground, very 
neatly spotted with blue. It is a dwarf greenhouse shrub, about a foot in height, 
and bearing a profusion of flowers on short, terminal spikes. As an autumnal- 
flowering plant, for placing on a stage, it will be highly useful in the greenhouse. 
OPERATIONS FOR SEPTEMBER. 
— «■ — 
An attempt to cultivate plants at any season, irrespective of the particular 
circumstances in which they have been placed during a shorter or longer period 
immediately preceding, would be in the highest degree absurd. So, in affording 
monthly suggestions relative to the manner in which plant culture should be 
conducted, it is important, when any remarkable deviation from the ordinary course 
of nature occurs, to take a retrospective glance at its actual influence at the time, 
and endeavour to estimate the future consequences to which it is likely to lead. 
The heavy rains and general gloominess of atmosphere experienced in most 
parts of the country towards the end of July, were calculated greatly to aflect all 
those plants at that time in any way exposed, and to render some kind of treatment 
corrective of their eff*ects absolutely necessary. We have before attempted to show 
that sunshine and partial drought are the most congenial autumnal influences for 
plants grown in temperate climates. When, therefore, nature reverses these 
conditions, it is the province of art to employ every possible means which will 
control or counteract her agency. 
Both in plant structures and the open ground, (for even in houses plants are 
all more or less prevented from ripening their wood and buds by unfavourable 
weather, although certainly not liable to that extensive injury from wet, to which 
such as remain unprotected are subjected,) some method which will exhaust the 
supply of fluids should be immediately adopted. It cannot be too often insisted 
upon that a quantity of water disproportionate to the temperature, not only checks 
the flowering propensities of the most healthy plant, but leaves it much more open 
to the action of frost. During such weather as that already recorded, fire heat 
should be applied to the stove, while the greenhouse should be kept closely shut, 
provided always the rains continue so long as to occasion injury, either palpable or 
perspective, to the objects of the culturist's attention. No other intervention than 
that of covering the earth around the roots can be aflbrded to plants in the open 
borders ; but this, if effectively accomplished, will be of immense benefit to half- 
hardy exotic shrubs and trees. 
