AUGUST. 183 



for our trouble. No plant can "be more gay than Calceolarias while 

 they are in flower; one only regrets that they are so soon gone. A 

 cool, airy greenhouse is the place for them while they are in flower ; 

 they must be kept shaded from the sun, and at no time are they fond 

 of too much light. 



If seed is required, now is the time to look after it, setting aside 

 a few of the best-marked and best-formed flowers ; these must be 

 carefully fertilised, otherwise it is in vain to look for seed ; and even 

 then it frequently ends in disappointment. The best flowers are not 

 the best seeders; on the contrary, they are generally the worst; they 

 not unfrequently die off altogether without ripening a single seed. 

 If you wish to propagate certain varieties, they should not be allowed 

 to seed at all, but should be cut down directly they are done flower- 

 ing, fresh surfaced, and set in a shady situation ; they will soon 

 throw up some cuttings, which may be taken off and struck under a 

 hand-glass in a shady situation. When struck, they may be treated 

 the same as recommended for seedlings ; but unless you have got 

 something very first-rate, it is hardly worth while to try to save them 

 at all, as they seldom make such fine plants as those raised from seed. 

 If proper care is used in saving the seed from the best varieties, the 

 generality of the plants so raised may be expected to be equal, and 

 probably a few superior to the varieties they are raised from. I think 

 we must thus admit that the soft-wooded varieties must be treated 

 almost as annuals. 



The above treatment is recommended for soft-wooded varieties ; 

 but it will also apply equally to shrubby kinds, in which we must 

 allow there is a great deal to be done; by carefully crossing the soft- 

 wooded with the shrubby varieties some first-rate things may be 

 obtained. The shrubby habit may be obtained with the large fine 

 flowers of the soft-wooded sorts. Such plants may be perpetuated 

 from cuttings; but every one who has grown the soft-wooded kinds 

 must admit that it is a matter of no small difficulty to save a variety 

 from one year to another. Besides, varieties from crosses so obtained 

 are more perpetual flowerers; they keep growing and flowering a 

 much longer time, and are splendid things for the greenhouse and 

 conservatory. 



Hilling don, July 12, 1853. 



REMOVING EVERGREENS IN SUMMER. 



The question, "When is the best season to remove evergreens?" 

 has been so repeatedly and so fully discussed in the various horticul- 

 tural periodicals, that one might almost despair of casting any new 

 li"-ht upon the subject ; nor is it necessary, so far as the general bear- 

 ing of the question is concerned. Every one that has extensive plant- 

 ing ope ations to perform, and especially where the plants have to be 



