THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
109 
SALVIA SPLENDENS. 
UTTINGS of this gay winter-flowering plant may be put 
in now, and afforded a gentle bottom-heat until they 
emit roots, when they should be potted singly in small 
pots. After potting place them in a close but not over 
warm situation, and as soon as they get established keep 
them near the glass, and afford them all the light possible, syringing 
overhead morning and evening in bright weather, and keeping the 
atmosphere as moist as circumstances will admit. If good-sized 
specimens are wished by the autumn, the young plants must not be 
allowed to suffer for want of pot-room. As they advance in growth 
the shoots should be carefully stopped and tied out, in order to 
secure bushy compact specimens ; but if a vigorous root-action is 
maintained, there will be little difficulty in keeping the plants bushy. 
A cold frame or pit will be the best situation for them after the 
beginning of May, or earlier if the weather proves favourable ; but 
they should be kept close here, and not allowed to sustain any check, 
which at this stage would be very injurious. If all goes on well, the 
plants will be ready for shifting into good-sized pots by the end of 
June, and I seldom repot them after that season. By that time they 
should be strong and well established in eight-inch pots, and when 
this is the case 1 shift some into twelve and others into fifteen-inch 
pots, according to the strength of the plants and the size it may be 
desirable to have them by the flowering season. They should be 
returned to their former situation, kept close and moist, and 
encouraged to make active growth, merely giviug sufficient air to 
keep the young wood strong. When the pots get well filled with 
roots, and the plants become good-sized specimens, which will be the 
case by August, they should be gradually prepared for removal to a 
sheltered situation out of doors, where they will be shaded from the 
forenoon sun. Here they will make short growth, and will flower 
more profusely than if kept under glass all the autumn. Stopping 
should not be practised on plants intended to flower in November 
later than about the middle of August. As soon as the weather 
becomes unsettled in autumn, the plants must be placed under glass, 
for they are very easily injured by frost, and should be afforded a 
light airy situation. After flowering, the specimens may be thrown 
to the rubbish heap, reserving one or two to supply cuttings. These 
should be kept dry at the roots for a fortnight, then cut back rather 
closely, and placed in any spare corner of the greenhouse, until 
towards the end of February, when they should be placed in a warm 
pouse, and thoroughly watered, when they will soon furnish a supply 
of cuttings. 
A | ril. 
