124 



THE FLORIST. 



of the sun's influence, by closing rather early in the afternoon ; and a 

 slight dewing with the syringe is given them for about a week or ten 

 days, to induce them to take to the fresh soil and make fresh roots 

 quickly ; after this, they get all the air possible by day. 



By the beginning of April, the pots will be full of roots. At this 

 stage, I pinch cut the centre of each, which induces them to break well 

 all round ; and when they have made shoots about a inch or so long, 

 they are then put into 32s, or (j-inch pots, using for them three 

 parts sound loam, well chopped up, but not sifted ; the other part to 

 contain about equal sand and dung, well decomposed. Let me here 

 say that I think the cause why some fail to bloom this beautiful class of 

 flowers satisfactorily, is want of stopping at the proper time, and then 

 not waiting till broken properly, and planting them in much too large 

 pots — 8, 10, and 12 inch ones I have seen them infrequently. It is a 

 great mistake to use such large pots. After they are all potted, sticks 

 are placed in the pots, in readiness to tie the shoots to as they advance ; 

 and, at the same time, all the shoots are thinned out to four, which I 

 have found better than a larger number. The pots are now plunged 

 into the ground, up to their rims. The plants get a watering and a 

 tying up when necessary. By the beginning of September they will 

 begin to show bloom buds ; they then get lifted from the ground, and 

 a little weak liquid manure is given them about twice a week ; and, 

 if mildew makes its appearance, as it will some seasons, I dust with 

 sulphur ; but, if green-fly, which I have never got on mine, attacks 

 the young shoots, prepare some tobacco juice, and dip the young 

 shoots into it. The pots are all washed, and then removed to an 

 airy vinery for a week or two, or any. place at command. By the 

 middle of October, the earliest varieties will commence to bloom, and 

 others will quickly follow. If kept in a greenhouse, the heat of which 

 is kept up from 48° by night to 50 or 55° by day, from November till 

 the end of February, they will keep gay and interesting during that 

 period. 



I take off cuttings, as before, in October, after they have finished 

 blooming, which will be about the end of April and May. My old 

 plants I transplant in the borders of the flower garden, where they 

 soon commence blooming again, and give me a second supply of beau- 

 tiful fragrant blossoms, which are at all times greatly prized. 



C. W. C. 



GARRYA ELLIPTICA. 



This magnificent and highly interesting shrub was discovered by 

 Douglas, in northern Californian, about the year 1828 ; and was 

 named by him in compliment to the late Nicholas Garry, Esq., at that 

 time chairman of the Hudson's Bay Company, to whose assistance he 

 was much indebted during his travels ; it is said to be the greatest 

 botanical curiosity introduced into this country by that indefatigable 

 collector. 



The plant attains considerable dimensions, and is irregular in its 



