238 THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. [OCTOBER, 



2^HE following mode of Propagating Loheliafulgens has been successfully 



practised at Mr. Ware's, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham. The pots containing 

 the Lobelias are plunged in cocoa-nut fibre ; then the flowering-stems are nearly- 

 cut through about an inch from the base, and laid down on their sides partially covered by the 

 fibre, using pegs or stones at intervals, to keep them in position and close to the plunging 

 matei'ial. The result is that plants are formed at every joint of a shoot, for the joints root 

 readily ; and thus an abundant supply of plants can be obtained. This plan, moreover, aids the 

 working of the old method of taking off the young growth that comes round the base of the 

 stem, as the severance of the main spike directs the vigour of the plant mainly to the pro- 

 duction of this growth. 



• '2I>HE extremely elegant inflorescence of Astilbe barhata (better known as 



Spircea japonica or Hoteia japonica) has led to its being largely grown as a forcing 

 plant, and nothing can be more charming than it is when so treated. Plants 



growing in 24:-sized pots often bear twenty or more finely developed panicles of flowers. The 

 pots should stand in saucers of water — this being an important means of ensuring success. Want 

 of water is inimical to the well-being of the plant ; moisture is indispensable to its fine 

 development. Some growers prefer to import the roots, when perfectly at rest, from Holland 

 or Belgium, believing them to be better ripened than home-grown plants. English-grown 

 plants, however, properly cared for, are equally good with the foreign ones. 



En Mr. Hepworth's paper on the Points of Perfection in Tulips, at p. 



196, under No. 4, second line, the word " flamed " should read '•' plated." 



GARDEN WOEK FOR OCTOBER. 



FLOWERS. 



^^NE of the great secrets of decoration is to have some part of an establish- 

 ment always in a state of perfection. When autumnal colds and rain 

 threaten the garden with destruction, all under glass ought to be growing 

 with freshness and beauty. In the stove, for instance, where the finer 

 specimen plants are about to go to rest, a whole lot of winter-flowering 

 plants should be coming on, if not to fill their places, at least to fringe them 

 round with gay colours and fresh green leaves. Euphorbias., Begonias., Justicias., 

 and Gesneras are among the more useful plants for these purposes. It thus 

 comes to pass that stove treatment through the autumnal and winter months, 

 where there is but one house, requires to be double and different, or a 

 balance between two states or conditions of plants, the resting and the flowering. 

 The Bougainvillea is a most useful plant for winter blooming and invaluable 

 for decorative purposes ; it ought not to be pruned in, nor dried off like Allamanda, 

 Clerodendron, Stephanotis, or other climbers. Every plant-shelf and stage 

 should be made scrupulously clean before bringing in winter-flowering stuff. 

 Orchids., excepting winter-growers or bloomers, should be kept as quiet as possible, 

 and late growths matured. See that the leaves and pseudobulbs are thoroughly 

 cleaned ; and guard against a high temperature, as it is bad culture as well as 

 great extravagance to start for the winter with a high temperature. 



All greenhouse plants must at once be housed. In doing this the drainage 

 should be examined, and rectified if needful ; worms should be hunted for and 

 destroyed ; all moss and sour soil should be scraped from the surface, and the 

 pots should be thoroughly washed. It is impossible to admit too much air after 

 housing, being careful, however, not to set choice ITeaths, &c., in the teeth of an 

 artificial wind that might place them in much colder quarters than out of doors. 

 Late-flowering Fuchsias., Zonal Pelargoniums., &c., may be thinly intermixed with 

 the hard-wooded plants, to lighten them up with colours during the autumn. 



