The Florida agriculturist., 1907-11-13


being natives of South and Central
America A number of the herbace-
Gus species have been cultivated in
Victoria, many Of which were insight
f1cant as ornamental plants, while
others, as S. azurea and patens, are,
on account Of the beautiful shades of
color of their flowers, most worthy
subjects.
The most popular SALIVA cultivated
here is "Bonhre," a garden variety
specially valuable for it's display Of
bright scarlet flowers during the sum
mer and autumn months "Gloire de
Studgardt" closely resembles "Bon-
fire." being somewhat heavier in type
of flower and habit of growth. Either
kind is valuable for decoration Of
mixed groups, or for bedding pur-
poses. The flowers do not last long
on the bushes, but the calyx, which
is about half an inch in length, is
also bright scarlet, and lasts for
considerable time There are several
other shrubby kinds that are worthy
Of place in the garden, being free
blooming plants, and of easy culture.
The common sage, S. oficinalis, is
IL
more hardy than several varieties
grown for their flowers.
Most of the salvias will grow into
nice bushes from three to five feet
in height, and flower we'll in any
garden soil. "Bon6re" may be seen
growing in the public gardens and
nurseries in any part Of the metro
politan district, thriving splendidly in
the most widely different soils. If
the plants are given a fair amount
OF water during the summer, and are
sheltered from devastating winds, they
will grow practically anywhere
S. patens requires a cooler and more
shaded position to attain perfection
the most beautiful of the genus, pro-
ducing spikes of bright blue flowers.
The variety is tuberous roofing, and
is propagated by divisions of the tub
erous roots in spring, or from cut
tings Of the young shoots in a hot
house or hot bed frame. 1t produces
seed freely, and young plants raised
in spring in pots or boxes Of soil
placed in a cold frame will bloom
during autumn.
S. azurea produces plants Of pale
blue color, and will thrive under Or
dinary border treatment in almost any
kind Of soil The habit Of growth is
loose and struggling, the plants re-
quiring to be staked and trained as
growth advances. Propagation is
effected by divisions of the crowns
i'll spring, the plants producing sucker
like growths like a chrysanthemum.
In many gardens salvias "Bonfre"
and "Gloire de Studgardt" are treated
as ANNALS, young plants being raised
each season from seeds. The plants
seed freely during the summer, and
this method is undoubtedly the east
est. Seed should be sown for early
planting in heated frames, for later
in cold frames The plants are cut
down by frost in winter unless pro-
tected. In the various metropolitan
plant nurseries thousands of young
plants are propagated each spring
from cuttings taken from plants that
have been grown in glass houses dur
ing the winter months. The plants
are watered sparingly during winter,
and are placed in heat and started
into growth early in spring Cuttings
of the young growths about inches
long are inserted in sandy soil and
root readily, after which they are
potted and kept growing, and grad
ually hardened preparatory to being
planted out in October and November
Such plants will bloom early in sum-
mer, successive paintings till early in
January ensuring an abundance Of
h+io To-