a contrast to almost every other flower ; for group- 
ing in beds, for edgings, and for an ornament 
amongst rock-work, it is equally desirable. Young 
plants, struck about midsummer, will continue 
especially useful, as winter flowerers in the green- 
house ; and, last of all, we anticipate its becoming 
a general favourite as a window plant, for which 
purpose it seems particularly well adapted. It is 
gratifying to observe that it is more hardy than 
could have been expected, for, at the time we write 
(October), Dahlias and numerous other plants are 
the slain victims of a frosty night, whilst Cuphea 
platycentra remains gay and healthy at their feet. 
From plants thus preserved, cuttings may be 
taken in March, and three or four being put into 
a pot of sandy soil, and a large tumbler turned over 
them, if plunged in the earth of a cucumber bed 
they would strike root quickly, and become flower- 
ing plants for the whole of the summer. There is 
scarcely a person, however humble, w r ho may not 
indulge his love for plants, and thus, in spring, 
increase his stock. Any respectable neighbour 
possessing a hotbed would give place to a pot of 
cuttings. We regret to acknowledge that excep- 
tions do exist, but in a general way, it would afford 
pleasure to the possessor of a cucumber bed to ren- 
der this assistance to a neighbour who could not 
perhaps afford such indulgence himself. Cuttings 
being thus struck, they should be potted in a mix- 
ture of light loam and decayed leaves, with a little 
sand. Both this species and strigillosa (No. 1109) 
flourish in pots, in the open air during summer, 
regardless of neglect. 
