1877. ] 
SALVIA SPLENDENS. 
37 
as in the important point of substance ; this is a great desideratum, for the 
somewhat loose and flabby character of the flowers of alha^ greatly detracts from 
its value. 
Last season I effected crosses with some of the best of the new types, but pro¬ 
bably owing to the dry season, but little seed was secured. I hope, however, to 
be more successful by-and-by, for I made a selection of twelve of the most 
promising forms, including the two already named, and when* they are in flower 
it is my intention to submit them to the notice of the Eoyal Horticultural 
Society, exhibiting at the same time illustrations of the four original types.— 
Richard Dean, Ealing^ W. 
THE TKEBONS ONION. 
WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 
’ RES-BON ?” Yes, certainly! This is the very best of Onions for certain 
purposes, and so is rightly named “ Tres-bon.” It is a French Onion— 
not a new variety, but one which is little known or grown in this country. 
^ The seed is often singularly scarce and difficult to procure: this im¬ 
plying a somewhat tender or peculiar constitution. A little more notice may, how¬ 
ever, conduce to more attention being paid to seed-saving, and in this way to its 
becoming more plentiful. As a variety for sowing in autumn and transplanting 
in spring, it is superior to all others. So treated, the bulbs attain a very large 
size, and ripen-off well, rivalling in size and greatly resembling in appearance the 
imported Spanish Onions of the shops. It is not a late or sound-keeping variety, 
seldom lasting much beyond Christmas; but in its season, there is no Onion of 
better quality, or any half so handsome. It may be described thus ;—Plant of 
free growth, bulbs very large, from 13 in. to 15 in. in circumference, and from 
3 in. to 3-|- in. deep ; the shape obovate, the base broad and flat, so tapering to 
the neck ; skin pale straw-colour, peeling off readily, exposing the flesh, which is 
pale and somewhat soft, the coatings thick and fleshy, and of very mild and 
excellent quality. 
SALVIA SPLENDENS. 
^OR autumn decoration this fine old showy and neglected plant is well 
worthy of cultivation. Nicely-grown plants in flower are exceedingly 
effective during the winter season, and the plant has much to recommend 
it besides. It is free-growing and soft-wooded, and propagates readily by 
means of cuttings, planted in the usual way, and placed in a little bottom-heat. 
To grow and flower it well, it should have a light rich soil, such as a compost of 
equal parts of loam, peat, and dung, with a little sand intermixed. Cuttings of the 
the young wood put in during May and June will make nice flowering plants by the 
autumn, but if large plants are required the cuttings should be inserted in April. 
As soon as the cuttings are rooted, they should be potted off, put into a frame, 
and kept rather close until they begin to make fresh roots, when air should bo 
