1879.] DECORATIVE GREENHOUSE-PLANTS. 13 



plants will be largely grown for the purpose. Though I am particu- 

 larly fond of the stove and its occupants, and would not like to part 

 with them, still I think it a pity that greenhouse-plants should also 

 not receive a larger share of attention than usually falls to their lot in 

 the majority of places. If some of our leading horticultural societies 

 would inaugurate the giving of prizes for this class of plants, no 

 doubt plenty of cultivators would be ready to take them in hand. 



In the following remarks, which are meant chiefly for young 

 gardeners, it is intended to give just a few hints on the propagation 

 and cultivation of some of the principal and most useful varieties of 

 decorative greenhouse-plants. And first we may take the Azalea, as 

 being one of the most useful as well as most highly decorative plants 

 of the sectioD. The Azalea is imported in such quantities from the 

 Continent, grafted either as dwarfs or as standards, and is sold at 

 such a very reasonable price by our nurserymen, that, unless by way 

 of practice, it hardly pays to propagate them in private establish- 

 ments. Should any wish to try their hand at it, however, one of the 

 strong-growing common varieties, such as Fielder's White, should be 

 selected from which to raise cuttings, as stocks on which to work the 

 finer varieties. The cuttings may be rooted in a mixture of peat and 

 sharp silver sand — 1 part of the former to 2 parts of the latter ; and 

 they may either be pricked into a propagating-box where a brisk bot- 

 tom-heat is maintained, or they may be put in a pot covered with a 

 bell-glass, and plunged in a hotbed. As soon as they are rooted 

 pot them up singly in small pots, still using peat and silver sand, 

 and replunge them in the bed for a time, till they take with the 

 potting, after which they may be transferred to a warm house, 

 and encouraged to make good healthy growths, and be well 

 ripened, after which they may be kept cooler during the winter. 

 Before grafting, the stocks had better be put into heat for a 

 short time, so as to excite the sap into active circulation ; and 

 when ready, head them over at the height you wish to graft ; 

 split the stock down half an inch or so with a sharp knife, and 

 insert the scion, wedge-like, tie them well together, and cover 

 with grafting-wax, and replace them into the propagating-box or hot- 

 bed ; keep them close and warm until the union be complete, after 

 which they must be gradually inured to the light and air. Pinch the 

 points out of the young shoots occasionally, so as to induce them to 

 form good heads. 



When ready for shifting into larger pots, the proportion of good 

 fibry peat should be increased, and a few small pieces of charcoal 

 may be added with advantage. Earn the soil hard about them at all 

 future pottings ; and for small plants the soil may be rubbed down 



