454 THE GARDENER. [Oct. 



were given, the soil would be more likely to get soured by repeated 

 waterings, before the roots had permeated the ball. The pot should 

 in no case be more than two" sizes larger than the one the plant is in ; 

 and it will be even safer should tliey be only one size larger. In 

 potting, the soil should be rammed in pretty firmly, so that it may not 

 retain more water in suspension than what is necessary for the wants 

 of the plant. As the season advances the plants should be introduced 

 into a cooler and more airy structure, in order that the wood may be 

 thoroughly ripened before winter sets in. The temperature during 

 winter should be maintained at from 40° to 50°. They should be 

 frequently syringed, in order to keep them free from scale, to which 

 they are somewhat subject, as also a kind of smut or fungoid growth, 

 which frequently gathers on the leaves and stems, rendering them 

 black and unsightly, and injuring the health of the plant. In order 

 to keep them clear of these pests, nothing beats tepid water in which 

 a little soft-soap has been dissolved : it is the most harmless, and one 

 of the most effective of insecticides. The foliage being so small, it 

 is next to impossible to hand- wash it, so the syringe should be in 

 frequent use. Boronia serrulata and B. Drummondii are the two best 

 of the species, and flower from the middle of April till the end of 

 June. 



THE POLYGALA. 



This genus of plants comprises a great many varieties, embracing as 

 it does hardy annuals, hardy herbaceous plants, and greenhouse ever- 

 green plants. The latter, to which alone the following notes refer, are 

 all natives of the Cape of Good Hope, and all bear purple flowers. 

 The varieties which are best known, however, and oftenest met with 

 in cultivation, and which used to be more frequently met with than 

 they are now, consist of the two varieties, P. Dalmaisiana and P. 

 oppositifolia. They are both worthy of a place in the greenhouse, as 

 they are exceedingly useful subjects to cut from, for they stand the 

 knife well, and one can cut-and-come-again at them. They are very 

 useful for house and conservatory work, and are good exhibition 

 plants also, though perhaps not among the very best for this purpose. 

 They have the further merit of taking but a moderate share of atten- 

 tion to grow them well. The soil which suits them best consists of 

 two parts of good fibry peat and one part of loam, with sufficient 

 sharp sand to keep it open. They are increased by cuttings of the 

 side shoots, taken off when they have made about 2 inches of growth. 

 These should be put in among silver sand, in a properly prepared pot 

 in the usual way, covering with a glass, and set in a warm pit until 

 they have struck roots, when they should be potted off singly into 

 thumb-pots, and set back into the warm pit until they get a fresh 

 start. They should be kept well pinched back when they are young, 

 as otherwise they are apt to grow straggly. They must be shifted on 



