66 THE FLORIST. 



finest ornamental plants ; all flower very profusely, remain long 

 in perfection, and are all of comparatively easy culture. Large 

 well formed specimens are more easily grown from cuttings than 

 from old cut back plants ; these may come in for summer tlowering, 

 but the symmetrical form, luxuriant foliage, and increased display 

 of blossom which young plants furnish, when properly managed, 

 cannot be expected from old plants. The old plants will require 

 a little heat to stimulate them into growth, which should be 

 commenced the end of December. The best time to take cuttings 

 for propagation is in January or early in February, and the best 

 kind of cuttings are the young shoots taken off close to the 

 old wood as soon as they are an inch long. Fill a sufficient 

 number of 5-incli pots, carefully drained, with a compost of good 

 loam and leaf-mould or peat and silver sand in equal parts, to 

 within one inch of the top, adding on this half an inch of silver 

 sand; water it gently to make it firm, then put in the cuttings 

 rather thin, after trimming ofl" the lower leaves ; give another 

 gentle watering and place them in a mild hotbed or in a propagating 

 house; if in the latter, place bell glasses over them. As soon as 

 the cuttings are sufficiently rooted to bear handling, pot them 

 singly in 3-inch pots, and keep them close and moist until they 

 are lully established ; a temperature of from 50° to 55° at night 

 to 55° or 60° by day will- be sufficient during the first month, and 

 if kept free from insects and properly supplied with water and a 

 moist growing atmosphere, their progress will be very rapid. But 

 it is probable that some of the plants, despite of every precaution, 

 especially the weakly growing varieties, will prove more inclined to 

 flower than to make strong growth ; such had better be set aside, as 

 there is little chance of their forming good specimens. The plants, 

 if struck in January, should be vigorous examples the end of March, 

 ready for a shift into 6-inch pots, but the size of the pots must be 

 regulated by the strength of the plant ; the stronger growers, if 

 properly managed, may be potted into 6- inch pots, while 5-inch 

 may be sufficiently large for others ; keep the plants rather close 

 after shifting, in order to encourage the roots into action. Syringe 

 over-head on fine warm days freely, and keep the atmosphere 

 moist, and ranging from 55° by night to 65° by day, but water 

 verycarefully till the growth of the plants indicates that they have 

 taken to the fresh soil. When the plants appear to have laid hold 

 of the fresh soil, admit air at all times wlien the external 

 temperature is mild and the house or pit rises to 65°, but close 

 early in the afternoon. Syringe over the plants, and keep the 

 atmosphere moist ; clear manure water should be used as soon as 

 it is supposed that the pots are moderately filled with roots. Now 

 some attention will be required to secure the desired form of plant ; 

 if the pyramidal shape is preferred, there should be a stake for the 



