552 State Board of Agriculture, &c. 



upon the inside, in the sandy peat, and, if they are well 

 taken off — that is, if the germ of the root, as I call it, is 

 not left on tlie old plant — one may have a riglit to expect all 

 to live, witli tlie same amount of light and air they need 

 while growing. There are some kinds, like the tradescan- 

 tia, coleus, etc., that start quicker in water. With these it 

 is only necessary to be cut off just below a joint, to have 

 them start readily. 



Many people think it almost impossible to start cut- 

 tings in winter, but I tliink it a mistake, as 1 iiave started 

 quite a number of geraniums, pelargoniums, fiichsias and 

 lantanas this winter. The past year I have procured 

 quite a number of different varieties of begonias, some for 

 the beauty of their foliage and others for their different col- 

 ored blossoms. These, I find, thrive best in a warm 

 and shady situation, and want more sand in the earth — 

 about two-thirds sand and the rest rich loam, with plenty of 

 charcoal for drainage. They like a moist atmosphere, but 

 not much water on the roots, so I shower the foliage often 

 with warm water, being careful to avoid getting much into the 

 pot. I have never found any insect that troubles these ; 

 but, if they are put into too rich earth or kept too M^et, 

 the roots will decay and the stalks drop off just above a 

 joint , and it is considerably so witli the Chinese prim- 

 rose if kept too moist ; but the primrose will not bear water 

 on its leaves at all. 



My first primrose — poor thing ! how hard I tried to make 

 it live — but, instead, was killing it with mistaken kindness. 

 I had read in the florist's book of instructions : " Prim- 

 roses delight in a ricli, sandy soil and moist atmosphere." 



