368 THE GREEN-HOUSE. [chap. xi. 
the plants grow bushy; and though it has 
this effect* it is a bad practice with the 
flowering kinds* as it prevents them from 
flowering. A better plan is to make cut¬ 
tings* and first to plant them in very small 
pots* gradually changing them into larger 
ones* till the plants have acquired a bushy 
habit of growth. 
Mimulus .-—Some of the kinds of plants of 
this genus are very handsome* particularly 
the hybrids raised by the nurserymen from 
M. cardinalis* M. roseus, M. luteus* and M. 
guttatus. These species are all herbaceous* 
and all natives of South America* Mexico* 
and California. They are all nearly hardy* 
and though generally grown in a green-house* 
they will stand quite well in the open air* 
dying down to the ground in winter* but 
sending up fresh and very vigorous shoots in 
spring. When these plants are grown in the 
open ground it should be in a shady moist 
situation; and when they are kept in pots* 
they should always stand in saucers half full 
of water. This water should* however* be 
changed every day* and when given to the 
plants it should always be as nearly as possi- 
