236 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ OCTOBER, 
on a greenhouse shelf are a sine qua non , in order to retain the plant in cultiva* 
tion by the spring-cutting process to which I have already alluded. 
As regards culture, the herbaceous section of the Stevias will thrive in 
almost any soil. Our heavy clay here appears to suit them equally well with 
the light gravelly soil at Kew—in fact, rather better—always provided one 
precaution be taken, and on this very precaution appears to hinge the fact 
whether the Stevias may be considered tender or hardy. Under any circum¬ 
stances, whether in light or heavy soil, if the frost gets to the crown of the root, 
the plant is sure to perish, but if, on planting out, the crown is buried, say 4 in. 
below the surface, not placed level with it, as is too often done, but even at the 
expense of burying a portion of the then existing stems, that plant will stand for 
years, and what is more, improve every year, both in the number of its flowering 
branches and the vigour of its growth. When thus planted, it is a thoroughly 
good perennial, and coming naturally into blossom so late in tbe season, retaining 
the full vigour of the plant’s development to the last, it has a high value as a border 
plant. I believe that a supposed tenderness—which, under the conditions I have in¬ 
dicated, becomes completely neutralised-—has militated against the more general 
cultivation of this group of plants. The shrubby section may be readily increased 
by cuttings, which root freely in a gentle hot-bed in spring ; but the herbaceous 
section, according to my experience, does not root so freely from cuttings. As a 
rule, however, they seed pretty freely, and in this natural mode of reproduction 
they appear to retain to a very great extent their true specific character.— Jas. 
0. Niven, Hull Botanic Gardens. 
THE SHEUBBY DATUEAS. 
OME years ago, I saw these plants grown as standards, and very handsome 
they were, with stems from 4 ft. to 5 ft. high, and planted out in the 
centre of rectangular beds, with such things as Verbenas as a carpet to 
them, the large flowers of Datura Knightii and Datura suaveolens —those 
of the former being large and double—giving off a strong perfume, more especially 
in the evening. When grown in this way as standards, they show their flowers 
to much greater advantage than in any other manner, and form a very 
pleasing contrast to a carpet of purple, pink, or scarlet Verbenas ; moreover, they 
give relief to the otherwise monotonous appearance of a bed of Verbenas of one 
particular colour. In other cases, planted as centre-pieces, with standards of 
Fuchsia fulgens as a fringe, the Fuchsias having stems of about 1 ft. in height, 
they prove very effective and pleasing. The ample foliage of this Fuchsia shows 
off the bright red flowers to advantage, the flowers appearing like corymbs of 
drooping coral, and the foliage so toning down the bright colour of the flowers 
as to make a most pleasing contrast. These Daturas might be used very effec¬ 
tively among large-foliaged plants which are used for summer bedding. Indeed, 
beautiful as are many of our sub-tropical foliage-plants, such things as the 
Datura and Fuchsia fulgens would lend increased charms to them, for though 
