22 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
Another species was added in 1832, from Buenos Ayres — P. 
intermedia , known also as Nierembergia intermedia and Salpi - 
glossis linearis. Cultivators aware of the advantages likely to 
arise from judicious fertilizing, at once directed their attention 
to the raising of seedlings, and many pleasing varieties resulted. 
The pi*ettiest and most varied collection we ever saw was grown 
by Mr. Weeks, gardener to —— Sheepshanks, Esq. late of Black- 
heath Park, among these were every shade of colouring, from 
pure white and spotted to the richest crimson and violet. The last 
variety of any note that has reached the public is Magna rosea, 
an immense flower of a rosy crimson colour; but even this, fine as 
it is, must yield to our present illustration, Punctata. Nothing 
we have ever seen possesses half its beauty, with an outline the 
most perfect is combined a great thickness in the petal, which 
imparts to the flower an appearance of velvet; the colours, too, 
and their disposal are perfectly distinct from any previous 
variety. The rich rose blotches on a field of clear bright blue 
render it quite unique. It was obtained from seed last season 
by Mr. Miller, Nurseryman of Ramsgate, who informs us he has 
been fortunate in raising also some other desirable varieties of 
Petunias, besides Fuchsias, Verbenas, &c., which we shall pro¬ 
bably have occasion to notice in a future Number. 
The cultivation of the genus is so simple and requires so 
little of what may be called “ tact,” as to place them within the 
command of the smallest grower. If healthy plants are pur¬ 
chased in the spring, they may be increased to any extent 
through the summer months, by inserting cuttings under a 
small hand-glass upon any shaded border; and but few plants 
may be kept with greater ease in the sitting-room window. But 
it is to their culture from seed we intend to direct our remarks; 
and for this purpose a good-sized, well ventillated melon-pit or 
greenhouse is necessary ; it may be done in either, though we 
think the pit preferable, because the plants, naturally impatient 
of heat, may here have a larger proportion and be in more im¬ 
mediate contact with the fresh air, and for the greater facility of 
covering, uncovering, shading, watering, &c. A difficulty is 
generally experienced in procuring sound, well ripened seed; 
this is attributable to our variable and often dull wet summer. 
The plants being natives of the clear bright sunny regions of 
South America, have not the natural and necessary space of dry 
