THE PLOaiST. 53 



them in a cold frame, or under a hand-glass, till thev become 

 established. The unrooted should be planted round the sides of 

 small pots, and be plunged in a south border up to the rim ; place 

 a piece of tile or slate beneath each, to prevent the entry of 

 worms, and cover them with small Carnation-glasses. Keep the 

 soil only moderately moistened ; they will root more quickly than 

 if continued in a wet state : neither night covering nor shading; 

 will be required. Secure the plants from the attacks of slugs, by 

 pressing the soil firmly round the bottom rims of the glasses. 

 Let the compost for offsets be, three measures of leaf- mould, one 

 of medium loam, aDd one of silver- sand ; and that for top-dress- 

 ing, equal parts of decomposed sheep manure, cow manure, and 

 loam of medium strength ; or nightsoil, cow manure, and loam, 

 equal parts. Hcrse manure may be used as a substitute for 

 either of the above, if not at hand. 



Offsets. — The best and safest mode of taking offsets from 

 Auriculas is that of carefully breaking them out of the old stem, 

 and rilling the wound with a little finely pounded charcoal. If the 

 knife can be dispensed with, all the better. The sap flows from 

 a cut wound for a considerable time, weakens the plant, quicklv 

 decomposes, and in many instances ultimately destroys the plant : 

 while from the broken wound there is no discharsre of sap, it 

 dries up immediately, and becomes sound, although presenting 

 a rough appearance to the eye. 



Seed, if not already sown, should be attended to at once. See 

 that the soil in the seed-pans sown last month is kept moistened. 

 As soon as it makes its appearance, give a slight sprinkling of the 

 manure-water recommended in Vol. I. page 102 now and then; 

 but carefully avoid exceeding the proportions stated. 



Peckham, Surrey. J. T. Xeville. 



Calceolarias. — Shift all plants required for exhibition, as in this 

 month they will commence growing freely, and must not be 

 allowed to get pot-bound. Draw the syringe over them occasion- 

 ally towards evening when shut up, as they enjoy it, and repay 

 such little attentions ; in fact, success is more often the result of 

 frequent minute attentions to little details of examination, «xc, 

 than to occasional great doings after long neglect. 



Xursery, Sudbury, Derbyshire. W. H. Holmes. 



Carnations and Picotees. — Let these plants be entirely open on 

 every favourable occasion ; we allow them at this time to receive 

 a little soft rain, taking care they do not get too much ; as the 

 time is so near at hand that they will be exposed to all wea- 

 thers, the more hardy and exposed they are grown, in reason, the 

 better. Keep the mould and pots dry, in readiness for potting ; 

 also trim the plants of any decayed foliage. 



Xursery, Slough. C. Turner. 



Dahlias should be examined for two purposes: to observe if any 



