==Saintpaulia==

==Greenhouse perennial==

A very remarkable perennial, only four inches high, obtained from eastern tropical Africa.  The plant has fleshy leaves, and the flowers, which are produced in clusters, somewhat resemble the Violet, but are much larger.  Saintpaulia makes a beautiful table ornament, and a row of pot plants in full bloom forms a charming margin in conservatories, either for a stage or on the ground.  The seedlings flower freely in about six months from date of sowing, and continue in bloom through the winter.  Sowings may be made from January to March, in well-drained pots placed in a temperature of 60 deg. to 65 deg..  On no account should the soil be allowed to become dry.  Subsequently the plants may be treated as recommended for Gloxinias.

==Salpiglossis==

==Half-hardy annual==

A highly ornamental half-hardy annual.  The finest strains have large, open flowers, exhibiting extraordinary combinations of colours which range from the palest sulphur-white to orange, scarlet, and purple-violet, all being more or less pencilled and veined with some strong contrasting colour.

If an early display is wanted, a start should be made at the end of February or beginning of March, by sowing on a moderate hot-bed.  In May the plants will be ready for flowering quarters.  Or sow in April in the open ground where the plants are to remain, taking care to thin severely, and the thinnings will be useful for dibbling in out-of-the-way comers, where they will furnish acceptable material for table decoration, for which purpose this striking flower is well adapted.

Salpiglossis make charming pot plants for the greenhouse and conservatory.  For this purpose seed should be sown in August or September, and under cool-house treatment the plants will bloom profusely in the following spring.

==Salvia==

==Hardy annual and half-hardy perennial==

From a genus including 450 species a small number of Salvias have won deserved popularity for beds and borders.  In summer and early autumn the long spikes of brilliant flowers produced by Fireball and Scarlet Queen make an extremely attractive display, and =S. patens= is one of the most superb pure blue flowers seen in gardens.  As a bedding plant =S. argentea= is extensively grown for its silvery-white foliage, which completely covers the ground.  These and other perennial varieties may be sown in pans during February and March for transfer to the open in May, and the plants need the usual treatment of half-hardy perennials.

A favourite annual variety is Blue Beard, growing eighteen inches high and presenting long spikes of bright purple bracts.  The annual Salvias should also be sown in pans in February or March and transplanted in May; or seed may be sown in the open border during April.

==Schizanthus==

==The Butterfly Flower.  Half-hardy annual==