232 NOTICES OP A FEW HANDSOME HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 
Give a liberal supply of air whenever the weather is fine, but be careful not to 
expose them to any direct cold draught. 
Neither of the species require bottom heat; yet if grown in pots or tubs it is 
generally thought advantageous to plunge them, either in earth or old tan, for 
unless this be done, they are thought sometimes to fail in blooming so freely, and 
setting so good a crop of fruit. 
The plants are of very rapid growth, and the leaves soon fall ; the stem and 
branches soon become naked for a considerable distance. When the plants have 
been grown freely for three or four years, they will commence flowering. The 
season for this is July ; and the bloom will continue to be produced in succession 
until October. The fruit swells off freely, and seems to meet with no check until 
it reaches maturity. 
Propagation is effected by ripened cuttings, which strike root freely if planted in 
sand under a hand-glass in heat. 
NOTICES OF A FEW HANDSOME HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 
Species with Blue Flowers. 
Aquilegia jtjcunda. Joyous Columbine. — A native of the mountains of Siberia. 
It grows about a foot high, and should be grown in sandy soil. It also thrives well 
on rock-work, because it is pretty dry in winter, but during the period of growth a 
liberal supply of moisture is requisite. 
Campanula grandts. Large Bell-flower. — This species has all the beauty of the 
favourite pyramidalis, and is even more showy. It requires a warm situation, and 
light sandy soil. See “Mag. Bot.” v. x., t. 31. 
Gentiana septemfida. Seven-cleft Gentian. — This grows about a foot high, is a 
very abundant flowerer, the colour is very vivid, and the plant grows with great 
freedom in a dry border. See “Mag. Bot.” v. viii., t. 51. 
Pentstemon Gordoni, Mr. Gordon's Pentstemon. — It is very hardy, grows 
about a foot high, produces a profusion of delicate sky-blue flowers, and should be 
planted in a dry situation. 
Pentstemon ovatum. Ovate-leaved Pentstemon. — This very pretty species con- 
tinues to bloom during the whole summer. It is a native of North America, and 
usually grows about a foot or eighteen inches high, and should be grown on a dry 
border or rock-work. See “ Mag. Bot.,” v. xiii., t. 99. 
Salvia azurea. Azure-blue flowering Sage . — It is a native of North America, 
and in favourable situations in our borders will attain the height of four or five feet, 
and bears a vast profusion of flowers. See “ Mag. Bot.” v. xii., t. 31. 
Salvia bicolor, Tivo-coloured Sage. — A native of the North of India, but is 
perfectly hardy ; it grows five feet or more in height, and when in flower is 
