42 



THE I'LOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



oil' the cap, and fill up an J run over again; 

 and this must be done at least onee a- 

 week, witli a strong heat, and for cuttings 

 that will stand plenty of moisture, it must 

 be done twice a-\veck. 



Then to make the most of the small 

 space, pack the pots close together, and use 

 upright thumbs in pi'efercnce to broad- 

 rimmed sixties. Put those that want 

 most heat in the centre ; as thej' start 

 shift tliem to tlie sides ; then put tliem 

 round the edge, with the glass drawn aside 

 to give air to those within, and allow a 

 little heat to escape to comfort those 

 without. 



I find it a good plan, for lessening 

 trouble, to keep one side partially open and 

 the other quite close, and to keep a regular 

 shift from the close to the open side, as the 

 plants make root, and demand more air. 

 The work of repotting and hardening off 

 is as simple as in any other form of tank- 

 bed — the great point being to shift them 

 before they get drawn through close con- 

 finement with bottom-heat. Watering 

 must be regularly attended to, and the 

 water must be of the same temperature as 

 the air of the case. Tiie ]3ots may be re- 

 moved for watering, and drained well before 

 being returned to the case ; though I use 

 a fine rose, and water them as they stand, 

 so as to irrigate the sand as well as tlie 

 plants; and if the sand gets a little too 

 moist, I get rid of it by a little extra ven- 

 tilatiou. 



When set to work, it is really astonish- 

 ing how much may be done with a Wal- 

 tonian case. It is a little plant factory, in 

 which seeds and cuttings of all kinds may 

 be started, and carried so far with the aid 

 of bottom-heat, that they may be safely 

 hardened off for tlic greenhouse or the 

 window, or, during spring, for planting 

 out in the garden. It has many advan- 

 tages over a common lujtbed. In the fir^t 

 place, we are certain of heat, and can re- 

 gulate temperatui'e from any degree up to 

 nearly 90"; the ordinary temperature, with 



a partial admission of air and the lamp 

 freshly trimmed, being 75' to 80'. It 

 requires an experienced hand to make up 

 a hotbed with dung that shall give a steady 

 heat for any length of time, and, with the 

 most experienced, accidents are not at all 

 uncommon, such as damping off, burning 

 up, failure of heat, and necessity for 

 linings ; but here we have simply to fill 

 the boiler, and light the lamp, and then 

 keep the case as close and damp as we 

 please, or give air and light according to 

 circumstances. Besides this, there is no 

 soiling of the hands, no wetting of the feet, 

 no anxiety about frosts and mats, and the 

 most serious part of gardening economy is 

 brought within reach of a lady's delicate 

 fingers, and the merest beginner's unripe 

 judgment. The limited size of the case 

 may seem to militate against it somewhat ; 

 but though it is not intended for the com- 

 mercial florist, who must sti'ike cuttings by 

 the thousand, it nevertheless will perforni 

 such an amount of work when well ma- 

 naged as to meet the wants of most ama- 

 teurs who delight in a garden of limited 

 dimensions, or who require the aid of close 

 bottom-heat in connection with a greeu- 

 lionse or conservatory. For propagating 

 verbenas, calceolarias, chrysanthemums, 

 etc., in sand and w-ater, shallow pans are 

 the best, with the little tops stuck all over 

 the sand, and enough water to make a 

 thin sheet above the sand. They soon 

 root, the water evaporates and leaves the 

 sand just firm enough to enable you to lift 

 out the rooted pieces; pot them, and 

 replace them in the tray. Geraniums, 

 fuchsias, calceolarias, everythirig which 

 conies from cuttings with bottom-heat, 

 may be struck safely, and in quantities 

 sutilcieut for all ordinary wants ; the work 

 of propagation being kept up during win- 

 ter, and till the close of May, after wliicli 

 time most half-hardy plants may be propa- 

 gated out of doors, without any artificial 

 heat whatever. 



THE xVTJTOBIOGRAPHY OF A WHITE CABBAGE BUTTEEFLY,^^ 



Is the title of a little work, by Michael it as an excellent work for the young, as it 

 Westcott, of Wells, Somerset, author of conveys much original information on an 

 the "Autobiography of a Gossamer i]iteresting branch of Natural History, in 

 Spider," which were both noticed by us ' a very ingenious and attractive form. 

 last year. Tlie second edition of the first- I Our gardening friends generally, especially 

 named work is now before ns ; it contains tlie growers of cabbages, should read it to 

 some additional matter and many im- become familiar with the habits of an enemy 

 provemcnts, and v,-e cordially recommend i that occasionally demolishes the crop. 

 * Groombridge aud Sons, London ; T, Green, Wells, Somerset. 



