DURING the winter of last year a catalogue was received from the Lewiston (Idaho) Seed Company which set forth in glowing terms the striking beauty and rare merits of what it believed to be a new plant. It was advertised as the "Sunset Plant," and the company was making efforts to ascertain its place in botany. At our request, a single specimen was sent to the Rural Experiment grounds in January. It grew vigorously and began to bloom in early May. The flowers start from the axils of the leaves, as shown by the very accurate accompanying engraving (page 540), and are borne on short petioles in clusters of two, three or four. The petals are heart-shaped, five in number, and the flowers, of a salmon color, are about one inch in diameter. The color of the buds is a pleasing shade of deep orange. The plant continued in full bloom until it was set out in the open border, where it again began to bloom in late July. The roots wintered safely, and new shoots appeared in early May, which began blooming about the first of June. The stems are about two feet high and need support. The leaves, as shown, are in form like those of the currant, and of a light glaucous color. The whole plant has a general resemblance to Malva rotundifolia, the "cheeses" of the young people.

The name of this malva we found to be Sphoer-alcea Munroana, formerly Malvastrum Munroanum.

The Lewis ton Company wrote us last year as follows : "We removed a plant to our grounds four years ago, which is now probably eight or ten years old. The plant was then perhaps four feet across and three feet high. It is now seven feet in diameter by four feet high, with zoo stems, all of this season's growth. The leaf and stem also show a proportional increase in size. We are pleased to learn you have decided upon its identity. It has been sent to a great many for identification, but you are the first to locate it".

This "Sunset Plant "will grow readily from seed.

We find it offered in some catalogues under the name Malva miniata.

It is not without some merit. In the earlier part of the summer it bloomed with great freedom, and was fairly covered with foliage. At present, however, the lower leaves have withered and dropped, so that its beauty for the season is past. It is growing, however, in a very dry, hot situation. The illustration shows a terminal shoot reduced to one-third its natural size.

E. S. Carman.

Rural New- Yorker.