JANUARY. 1 1 



The professed chemical analyst now-a-days requires more things 

 than those enumerated by Sir H. Davy. But even with these much 

 may be done. If l>y the appHcation of a chemical test any of the salts 

 of iron are detected, they can be decomposed by lime. If we find an 

 excess of silicious sand, it is improved by the application of clay and 

 calcareous matters, and so on. 



The physical properties of soils are also a most important considera- 

 tion, and must be attended to, as well as the chemical qualities, if we 

 are to cultivate successfully. By an attentive study of these sciences — 

 by obtaining a thorough knowledge of vegetable physiology, and by 

 being intimately acquainted with everything in any way appertaining 

 to vegetable life, gardeners will raise themselves to the rank of profes- 

 sional men. And if to these they unite a practical knowledge of their 

 business, it will then matter little to them whether they are called upon 

 to manage a garden or an estate ; they will have within themselves 

 resources equal to any situation. Nor will it matter to them what 

 part of the habitable globe they may have to exercise their caUing ; 

 they will be able to adapt their practice to any circumstances. 



M. Saul. 



WINTER FLOWERING PLANTS. 



Flowers, always desirable, are more than ever so at this season, when 

 the lack of them in the open garden is not much compensated for by 

 what is obtained by our ordinary greenhouses and stoves. It is winter, 

 and plants feel that it is so ; and were it not that we m.w-a-days grow 

 many plants from southern climes, which come into bloom naturally at 

 this season, our display of winter flowering plants would by no means 

 be so effective as it is. I append descriptions of a few I grow myself, 

 for your journal. 



Euphorbia fulgens. — This is a stove plant from Mexico, throwing 

 out long flexible shoots, sparingly furnished with leaves ; the flowers 

 (as they are commonly called) are in clusters of from four to six, on 

 short footstalks produced from the joints or axils of the leaves for a con- 

 siderable length at the upper end of the shoots. The flowers (or 

 coloured involucre) are of a bright scarlet colour, and exceedingly 

 showy ; and when the plant is well grown we have nothing so brilliant 

 at this season. This plant is a bad one to grow either as a bush or 

 trained, in consequence of its straggling habit. Well ripened wood will 

 strike freely in bottom heat in February or March, after blooming. 

 When potted, plunge them close to the glass in a slight bottom heat, 

 and stop them back ; they will soon form three or four lateral shoots, 

 and if small plants only are required, these should be trained on boards 

 and then upright, so as to form nice shaped specimens ; five or six-inch 

 pots will be large enough for them, and after the young wood has 

 grown five or six inches the plants may be removed to a light part of the 

 stove ; when fully exposed to light, and near the glass, they should be 

 kept comparatively dry and cool during October and November, to ripen 

 the summer growth ; after which, by again placing them in the stove. 



