246 THE FLORIST, 



much ; better to remove a few than to lose the greater portion by- 

 damp and mildew. Watering, too, requires more than ordinary 

 attention. The cutting-pots, as they are removed from the pro- 

 pagating-pit, are so full of soil, that when water is given in any 

 quantity, the greater portion runs over and saturates whatever they 

 may be placed upon. This in winter, and in a cold frame, is of 

 course not to be permitted ; and to obviate it, as water must some- 

 times be given, some of the surface soil should be removed, to afford 

 space enough for its application. It will not often be required ; but 

 when it is given, let it be given thoroughly. 



Among many kinds. Verbenas especially'', the green-fly becomes 

 a great pest. To eradicate them, tobacco-smoke is the best remedy. 

 Prevention is, however, better than cure ; and if healthy growth be 

 at first established, and all puny attempts at subsequent elongation 

 are destroyed, the insect annoyance will be of seldom occurrence. 



Crayon. 



GARDENIA FORTUNI. 



Among the numerous species now in cultivation of this highly 

 fragrant and favourite genus, none perhaps possess more especial 

 claims on our notice than this fine plant. Its beautiful double flowers, 

 measuring from three to four inches across, of the purest white, em- 

 bosomed in its fine glossy foliage, are exceedingly attractive ; and 

 each blossom, as it were, a bouquet in itself, combining a large amount 

 of constitutional vigour with a free habit of flowering. It is a plant of 

 rapid growth ; and under good management, large bushy specimens 

 may be obtained in a comparatively short time. Unlike the other 

 double-flowering kinds, it blooms once only in each season ; but as 

 it continues for some time in flower, a few succession-plants wiU 

 suffice to prolong the blooming period through a considerable por- 

 tion of the summer. 



The propagation of this plant is most easily efi^ected by cuttings 

 of hall-ripened shoots of the young wood taken off" with a heel, cut 

 smoothly over, and inserted in silver-sand in a well-drained pot, and 

 afterwards plunged in a gentle bottom-heat, and covered with a bell- 

 glass ; five or six weeks will generally suffice for their becoming well 

 rooted, when they may be potted oflr singly into 4-inch pots, and 

 again placed in heat. Supposing the cuttings to have been taken in 

 June or July, the young plants, when well established, may receive 

 a second moderate shift, and be continued growing in heat, as before ; 

 care should, however, be taken not to keep them growing too late in 

 the season, as that prevents the ripening of the wood before the dark 

 days of November come on. When the plants cease growing, they 

 should be removed to a cooler situation for the winter. A tempera- 

 ture of 45° to 50° will suffice during their period of rest, at which 

 time water should be sparingly but judiciously given when required. 



Presuming plants have by this means been provided, a young 

 healthy stock obtained from the nursery about the beginning of 



