We are informed by Mr. Rendle’s Circular, 
respecting the Stachys speciosa, that it was raised 
from Mexican seeds, and it is truly enough stated 
that it is altogether a handsome plant, and will be 
a great acquisition to the flower garden. It was 
exhibited, in 1840, at the summer exhibition of the 
Devon and Cornwall Horticultural Society, and 
had awarded to it the society’s silver medal. 
It has been supposed, and not without reason, 
that this plant is too nearly allied to Stachys coc- 
cinea, to admit of its separation. The dilatation of 
its leaf-stalks, the length of its peduncles, relative 
length of its style and filaments, and more bushy 
habit, are all at variance with the description of 
coccinea, still their prominent characters agree. 
Whether it prove distinct or otherwise, its beauty 
is not thereby deteriorated, nor its value as a hardy 
garden ornament lessened. 
Before its leading stems have done flowering, it 
is advantageous to shorten some of them down to 
their strongest lateral shoots, which will be hereby 
stengthened. By attention to this, at different pe- 
riods, a strong plant may be kept in great beauty 
for three months. It admits of being increased by 
cuttings of the stems, which will strike root under 
a hand-glass. The roots also may be divided; or, 
if about midsummer some of the flowering stems be 
cut down, to within an inch or two of the ground, 
and the soil drawn up to them, they will emit 
shoots, which will root into the soil, and may be 
conveniently separated in a few weeks In addition 
to these modes of increase, it may be abundantly 
propagated from seeds. 
