The scarlet flowering Justicia, J. coccinnea, is a very beautiful warm greenhouse plant, belonging to the Natural Order Acanthaceae. It is a shrubby, soft-wooded plant, of vigorous rapid growth, attaining a height of from three to six feet, having smooth dark green elliptical leaves, and produces its bright scarlet flowers in terminal spikes in great profusion from December until March, and if planted out in the open air early in May in a well enriched deep border, will flower at intervals during the summer season.

A well grown and nicely flowered specimen when in full bloom will make a splendid show, the richness of its bright scarlet flowers forming a striking contrast with its dark green leaves, and as it is a plant easily grown it is worthy of a place in all collections, however small.

Like all plants of vigorous growth, it requires, and must have good drainage, an abundance of room for its roots, and when growing rapidly a situation near the glass in order to prevent the plants from growing spindling. It should be grown in an average winter temperature of 550, and a light sunny situation. It does best in a compost of two-thirds well rotted sods, and one-third well decomposed stable manure, well mixed, and an occasional application of liquid manure water during its season of growth will prove to be of great benefit to the plant.

Propagation is effected by cuttings of the half ripened wood, and if the young plants are potted off as soon as rooted and liberally cared for by being shifted as often as necessary, nice specimens will soon be obtained. During the summer season the plants should be planted out in a well enriched deep border and taken up and potted early in September, care being taken to see that they are well supplied with water during our hot dry summer weather. As a plant for the window garden, I would not advise any one to cultivate it, as I have never known it to do well when so grown, but as an amateur's plant for the decoration of the warm greenhouse during the winter season it is invaluable.

This Justicia is a native of South America from whence it was introduced as early as 1770, and the generic name was given in honor of J. Justice, an eminent Scotch botanist who published works on gardening in 1763, and the specific name was given in allusion to the color of its splendid inflorescence. Queens, N. Y.