MAY. 99 



Geranium or a Chrysanthemum. The materials necessary are, some 

 good sandy peat, some pure white silver- sand, and two or three clear 

 bell-glasses, together with a rather warmer house to place the cutting 

 pots in than the greenhouse. The best time is when the plants have 

 plenty of young shoots upon them, which generally happens about 

 the end of May. The best cuttings are such as are growing on the 

 side- shoots, because these are not so gross and full of sap as the 

 leading branches. The shoots being in a fit state to take off for 

 cuttings, select some pots of such a size as will allow the bell-glass 

 just to fit within them ; fill the lower parts of the pots with broken 

 potsherds for drainage, lay upon the drainage a thin layer of the 

 rougher parts of the peat, then fill up with roughly sifted peat to 

 within an inch of the top, and fill up the remainder with pure silver- 

 sand ; give a gentle watering from a very fine-rosed watering-pot to 

 settle the sand, then prepare the cuttings ; take them off" about 1^ 

 inch long, trim off the lower leaves carefully with a very sharp knife, 

 without injuring the bark ; set the bell-glass upon the sand to make 

 a mark, and within that mark put in the cuttings in neat rows across 

 the pot, keeping each variety to itself. Proceed till the number 

 desired to be multiplied is all planted ; then give a second gentle 

 watering to settle the sand close to the cuttings, let them stand half 

 an hour in the shade to dry the wet off" the leaves; then plsce the 

 bell-glasses upon them, and set them in a gentle heat, shading them 

 every day when the sun shines ; also let the glasses be wiped dry 

 every morning for a month, and by that time the cuttings will begin 

 to grow. To check them from drawing up weak, uncover them for 

 an hour or two every morning ; and when they are rooted, remove 

 them into a cooler house for three or four weeks, leaving the glasses 

 off^in dull weather, and shading them from hot sunshine ; by that time 

 they will be fit to pot off". If there are a considerable number, and 

 room is scarce, they may be put into 3-inch pots, four in a pot, and 

 allowed to remain in them till the following spring. When they are 

 potted off" out of the cutting-pot, place them in a cold frame close 

 to the glass, and shade till they are fairly established. To cause 

 them to form branches close to the pots, nip off" the tops as soon as 

 they begin to grow afresh ; and when they have filled the small pots 

 with roots, re-pot them, and afterwards treat them in the same man- 

 ner as the established plants. 



T. Aptleby. 



OUT-DOOR CAMELLIAS. 



In a small garden here a Camellia has stood the test of several 

 winters without injury. It is now well estabhshed, and loaded with 

 flower-buds, which, should the weather become more favourable, will 

 soon be fully developed. It is planted in ordinary soil, and is fully 

 exposed to the north and east winds. It has never had protection 

 until within these few nights. 



Enylefield Green, March 19. William Whale. 



