THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 121 



It is a long time since grafting was proposed in these pages, but 

 very few have profited by the recommendation. I am quite satisfied 

 about the grafting ; but if people will not do it, tlie loss is not mine, 

 but theirs. Now I propose hudcUng, 



" And what do you say to that, my cat ? " 



In about five years, perhaps, with the aid of fifty articles and a hun- 

 dred demonstrations, budding may find favour ; for the present, no 

 doubt, I am thrashing the wind. !N"ever mind — boruto thrash, so thrash 

 away. How do we bud them, you ask, perhaps ? Just in the same 

 way as budding roses ; the leaf is all removed, and the leaf stalk is left. 

 Select a place on the stock where a variegated shoot would be in an 

 advantageous position. Cut out your bud, and do not peel it. Cut 

 it as a miniature graft — a little wedge ; make a notch in the stock 

 to receive it, insert it, press it close, and make it fit exactly, and just 

 pass one thin strip of soft bast above and below the stalk, and tie 

 tenderly. A moist propagating-house or pit is the place in which to 

 promote the union, which will take place instanter. As the bud 

 grows remove the wild growth, or merely stop it back, so as by 

 degrees to direct into the graft the whole of the sap. If for no 

 other purpose, this is worth adopting to make standards, which 

 hitherto have been curiosities, but which the spirit of the time 

 demands shall become common ; that is to say, common in the sense 

 of being understood by all leaders of taste and practice. As to the 

 possible breadth of range in choice of stocks and grafts, I have little 

 to say. Seedling zonal stocks will take buds and grafts of any and 

 every zonal variety, and that is all I know about it. I have never 

 tried a zonal on a -large-flowering variety (P. speciosa), and I leave 

 it to such as have time and taste for experiments, and who also 

 believe them to be worth attempting, which I do not, except merely 

 that we never know what may be the value and use of a new fact. 



S. H. 



THE GAEDEN GUIDE FOR APEIL. 



Next came fresh Api-ill full of lusty hed, 



And wanton as a kid whose horne new buds : 



Upon a Bull he rode, the same which led 



Europa floting through th' Argolick fluds ; 



His homes were gilden all with golden studs, 



And garnished with garlonds goodly dight 



Of all the fairest flowres and freshest buds 



Which th' earth brings forth ; and wet he seem'd in sight 



With waves, through which he waded for his Love's delight. 



Spensek. 



imiNG- this month there will be no lack of flowers, for 

 all the early- flowering plants are now coming freely 

 into bloom. In the garden we shall have in abundance 

 aubrietias, alyssums, candytufts, alpine, and other wall- 

 flowers, American cowslips, gentians, primroses, forget- 

 me-nots, catchflys, hyacinths, tulips, violas, and the early-flowering 

 pansies. 



April. 



