ON SALVIA. 
223 
the finest of the whole genus ; its noble and brilliant blooms 
forming such an admirable contrast with those of S. splendens or 
S.fulgens , when planted in groups, and which we are of opinion 
is by far the best manner of planting these and many other kinds 
of plants. We have had the abovementioned species with the addi¬ 
tion of S. odoratdy which is white, and aurea (yellow), in the centre 
of a bed ; and the dwarf species, Tenorii (blue), Pinnatfi (pink), 
and the little Myyptiaca (white), round the border of the bed ; and 
the whole formed one of the most brilliant masses it is possible to 
conceive. We have great pleasure in making it known to our 
readers, that S. patens we have found to be perfectly hardy ,—and 
take some credit to ourselves for the originality of the remark. 
The plant from which our drawing was taken, was by accident 
left out of doors in a pot among some others the whole of last 
winter ; on examining the pot in the spring some signs of vege¬ 
tation were visible ; it was then repotted, and the usual care be¬ 
stowed on it; the result has been three beautiful spikes of flowers. 
This proves it must be tolerably hardy, for the spot on which it 
stood was very much exposed. 
Another method of keeping it through the winter we have 
practised with much success ; it is this :—as soon as the plant has 
done blooming, gradually withdraw its supply of water until the 
foliage falls off; then take it out of the pot, cut the stem down to 
within about an inch of the tubers, then hang it up in a dry place 
secure from frost; here it will keep extremely well till wanted 
again, when it may be either started in a gentle bottom heat in 
March, and afterwards taken into the conservatory, or it may re¬ 
main in the dry state till May, and then be planted in the open 
border. 
The Salvia, treated as a greenhouse plant, requires a mixture 
of peat and loam in equal parts, with small but frequent shiftings. 
But when forced, which it will bear very well, it should be potted 
in peat alone ; this gives a deeper green to the foliage, and a 
much greater brilliancy and depth of colour to the flowers. 
In conclusion, we may mention, it derives its name from Salverey 
“ to save,” in allusion to its supposed healing properties. 
It belongs to the natural order Labiata ; and in the Linnsean 
arrangement, it is placed in Class Diandria —Order Monoyynia. 
The How, near Halstead, 
R. P. 
