378 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



propagated cither by seeds or cuttings. The cuttings do not root quickly, but if a 

 thousand were put in there would not be the loss of one, if in three parts sand, and 

 only kept moderately moi^t. We propagate it all seasons without bottom-heat, 

 but in April is the best time for novices. Cerastium tomentoxum may remain out 

 all winter, and taken up. in the spring and divided. If wanted in quantities, the 

 young tops maybe struck either with or without the help of heat. 



Fuchsia Query. — M. D. — Fuchsias will come from cuttings at almost any 

 season of the year, and from green shoots and ripe wood alike. J3ut the best way 

 to propagate is to cut them in and start them into growth in December ; then as 

 the new shoots are three inches long, to take them off with a heel, and strike in a 

 mixture of sand and leaf-mould, with an inch of pure sand on the surface. "We do 

 not see that you need check the fuchsia that blooms so abundantly. 



CoMMELiNAS. — F. B., Leeds. — The common an'd very beautiful C. cmlestis may 

 be kept over winter in sand, in any part of Britain, in the same way iis dahlia- 

 roots, but in the south it may be left in tlie open ground all the winter, if pro- 

 tected with a little heap of leaves. If taken up, it is best not to separate the 

 fleshy spindle-shaped tubers, but to plant them entire in spring, when they make 

 fine plants. If increase be an ohject, they may be started in a gentle heat in 

 March, then separated and potted separately, to be planted out in May. 



Grapes in Greenhouse. — Vitis. — There is not so much difficulty in growing 

 grapes in a greenhouse as you imagine. You need not be frightened about ii 

 especially as the plants you have to grow consist principally of bedding plants. 

 Give plenty of air through the winter and early part of spring, whenever the 

 weather is mild enough to admit of its being done. This will serve the double 

 purpose of kf^eping the plants stocky, and preventing the vines breaking before 

 there is sufficient warmth to carry them along. After the vines begin to break, 

 keep the house rather close and warm, and throw a icv/ cans of water on thefloor 

 during the day, to cause a moist atmosphere. Sliifc the bedding plants out of doors 

 as early as possible, and then take advantage of all the solar warmth you can, by 

 shutting rap the house early in the afternoon. When the weather is very cold, after 

 the vines get into full growth, light a fire to prevent the temperature falling below 

 05° ; 70° would be better. Use also a little fire-heat ivhen the gmpes are ripening, 

 if the weather should happen to be rather cold and damp at that season. That will 

 enable you to give plenty of air to insure their colouring well, and also ripen them 

 off before you want to bring the plants into the house for the winter. The grapes 

 ■will not keep long in the autumn with plants underneath; therefore they should 

 be cut soon after the plants are brought indoors, and suspended iu a cool, dry room, 

 with the ends of the shoots in bottles of water. 



AziLEAS. — R. Smith. — The compost for azaleas should consist of good flbry 

 loam one part, fibry peat two parts, and a liberal proportion of silver-sand, sufficient 

 to make the bulk feel gritty. The peat must be good. When you repot the plants, 

 place a good drainage of broken crocks in the bottom, and use pots large enough to 

 allovv an inch of fresh soil all round, and ram the new soil in firm. When azaleas 

 are potted looseh', the water runs through the new soil v/ithout wetting the old 

 ball, whii;h soon gets so dry in the centre that the roots perish, and it is then only a 

 work of time for the heads to perish too. Avoid giving them too much water, or 

 letting them sufier for the want of that element. Ordinary greenhouse tempera- 

 ture, with plenty of ventilation, is all that tljey require. The thermometer should 

 not be allowed to rise much above 50°, or fall below 4L°, through the winter. Tlie 

 plants should remain indoors until the young growth is finished, and then be t iken 

 out of doors and placed in a shady position, where they mu>t remain until the 

 following September, and then be taken indoors again. Avoid placing them under 

 the drip of trees, or they will soon be ruined. Attend to them carefully through 

 the summer, and do not let them suffer for want of water. Hundreds of plants are 

 ruined annually through being set out of doors and left to themselves. Tlie greatest 

 danger is just after rain ; inexperienced cultivators (ancy that a good rain is sufficient 

 fi.r the time, whereas it is seldom that the moisture therefrom penetrates beyond 

 three or four inches below the surface. Singing the pots with the knuckles is a 

 very good way to ascertain when the plant is really wet or dry. The pots, when 

 placed out of doors, should be stood upon bricks or smaller-sized pots, to prevent 

 worms penetrating through the holes iu the bottom. 



