346 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
afterwards grown in larger pots, hardened off in May and 
planted out in June. To facilitate the germination of the seeds 
it is a good plan to cut a slight nick in the hard covering by 
means of a file, and then to soak them in tepid water for twelve 
hours before sowing. The Castor Oil plant is really a peren- 
nial, but is best grown as an annual. 
SaJpiglossis (Scallop or Trumpet Tongue). — Half-hard) 
annuals, belonging to the Nightshade order (Solanaceae). S. 
sinuata, a native of Chili, is the parent of the very fine strain 
of showy varieties now in cultivation under a variety of names, 
as grandiflora, various colours ; aurea, yellow ; kermesina, 
crimson ; coccinea, orange-red ; rosea, rose ; violacea, violet- 
purple ; and nana, dwarf. They have pinnately cut foliage and 
curiously veined or netted funnel-shaped flowers. These 
beautiful annuals are showy and charming plants to grow in 
beds or in masses in the mixed border. Seeds may be sown in 
gentle heat in March, the seedlings being transplanted in due 
course singly in small pots or a few inches apart in boxes, 
hardened off and planted out 6 to 8in. apart late in May. Or 
seeds may be sown in April in the borders, and the seedlings 
thinned out to 6in. or so apart later on. They like a rich 
well-manured soil and a sunny position. 
8a.! via.. — Apart from the species described on p. 213, men- 
tion must be made of the brilliant-flowered variety Glory of 
Zurich, an ideal plant for massing in beds. It is easily reared 
from cuttings inserted in a cold frame in August. In October 
remove to a heated greenhouse, repot in March, and pinch 
occasionally to induce a bushy growth. Cuttings may also be 
rooted in spring. A fresh stock must be reared each year, as 
the old plants will not survive the winter. 
Solarium. — We have dealt with the shrubby species in 
the section devoted to Trees and Shrubs. Here it only remains 
for us to deal with those species which are grown solely for 
the beauty of their foliage for flower garden decoration in 
summer. The chief kinds grown for this purpose are S. 
atropurpureum, a native of Brazil, wfith purplish- or blood- 
red stems and large leaves furnished with prickles and white 
midribs. S. marginatum, a native of Abyssinia, with white 
woolly, prickly stems and prickly leaves, white beneath and 
green above, margined with white. S. robustum, a Brazilian 
species, with woolly stems and leaves green and velvety above 
and rusty-yellow and woolly beneath, and spiny. S. Warsce- 
wiczi, a S. American species, with red hairy, prickly stems and 
green leaves furnished with prickles on the midribs. Best 
treated as half-hardy annuals, seeds being sown in heat in 
