190 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



in a rather sunny house, where the shading of two thicknesses of tiffany keeps it as 

 fresh as if it were beside a fountain in its native land. 



Flo WEii- pots. — W. B. — A"cast'' of pots or pans is the whole number of a 

 given size made out of a given bulk of clay. In various parts of the country the 

 sizes and shapes of pots differ considerably, so do the qualities also. Most of the 

 pots made at the potteries near London are good, and the best we have yet obtained 

 of large size are those made by Messrs. Adams Brothers, Belle Isle, King's Cross, 

 who not only use good clay, but are particular about the burning of them. It is 

 no use, however, to send to them for small quantities. The sizes of pots made by 

 most of the London potteries are as follows: — 60 to the cast, technically called 

 '•'sixties," three inches diameter; 54's, four inches diameter; 48's, five 'inches 

 diameter ; 32 s, six inches diameter ; 24'?, eight inches diameter ; 16's, nine inches 

 diameter; 12s, eleven inches diameter ; 8 s, twelve inches diameter; 6's, thirteen 

 inches diameter ; 4's, fifteen inches diameter ; 2's, eighteen inches diameter ; 

 l'Sj twenty inches diameter. The pots called uprights are now almost out of use. 

 They are made straight, like common chimney.pots, and are intended for plants that 

 form perpendicular roots, such as hyacinths, etc. Cultivators find them scarcely 

 advantagcous, as compared with common pots, and they are most objectionable on 

 the score of ugliness, whether used in the conservatory or exhibition stage. 



Golden Fern. — Lady D. N. — When Gymnogrammas die at the points of the 

 fronds, it may be conjectured that they are either badly drained or are kept too 

 damp and too cold. As we cannot see the plants, we advise you first to ascer- 

 tain if they are properly potted ; the drainage must be perfect. Next consider if 

 they are exposed to drip, or if they get too much water, or if they are subject to 

 draughts, or if they are too cold, for any of these evil conditions may occur in 

 places where these beautiful ferns are not much grown. G. chrysophylla is the 

 finest of the whole family, and is called the "King of the Gold Ferns." It is a 

 native of South America and the West Indies. The proper place for it is the stove; 

 it should have a rich peaty soil, with plenty of sharp, well-washed sand, and never 

 allow the fronds to be ivet ted. When the dowers* of pot roses fog off, it maybe 

 owing to bad drainage, a very damp and cold atmosphere, or want of ventilation. 

 The Editor never supplies books or seeds. You can get the "Rose Book" through 

 any bookseller; the price is 5s. 



Propagating a Grape Vine bt Circumpositiox. — Tyro. — In rooting a shoot 

 of a vine by this method, care must be taken to ascertain first how it can be drawn 

 through a pot without injury, and next, which is the best ptrt of the shoot on which 

 to make the incision. The best way usually is to enlarge the hole in the bottom of 

 an eight-inch pot, so that the shoot can be drawn through without injuring the 

 leaves, as the leaves on the upper part of the shoot must be preserved entire. 

 Having settled these few matters, the rest is easy. Cut an incision three parts 

 round the shoot, and an eighth of an inch wide ; let it be just deep enough for the 

 removal of the bark. The incision or ring should of course be made at some point 

 in the shoot near the base, and where, when it is drawn through the pot, it will be 

 about two indies below the rim. Remove all the leaves from that part of the 

 shoot which is to be covered with soil, and cut out with :t penknife the buds situated 

 in their axils. Now draw the shoot through the pot, and fix the pot firmly. Put 

 in two inches depth of small broken bricks, and fill up with light rich soil ; press 

 rather firm, and water. It only remains to keep the shoot neatly trained so as to 

 grow upright, and its full length, and the soil in the pot always moist. Roots will 

 come quickly, and the pot will be filled with them. It is best to allow the shoot to 

 remain until the end of the season, and when the leaves begin to change colour is a 

 good signal for the separation of the young vine from its parent. Cut it through, 

 with a small, fine, sharp saw, close under the pot, and lay it on its side, so as to 

 hasten the healing of the stump. Roast the young vine in the full sun, and it will 

 be fit for any purpose for which a young, strong, well-rooted vine may be required. 



Own-hoot Roses. — A Subscriber. — The propagation of these from cuttings is 

 not a difficult affair, if you go the right way about it. Early in July make up a 

 bed with a few dry leaves or half-rotten manure, just sufficient to warm the soil 

 with which it is to be covered ; tan or half-spent hops will also answer admirably. 

 When the bed is made up firm, to a height of about two feet above the grotmd level, 

 and the frame placed thereon, mix up enough soil to cover it about nine inches in 

 thickness, put it in the frame, and then cover with half an inch of sand ; either 



