1879] CYPERUS ALTERNIFOLIUS. 323 



which are characterised by the highest finish, gathered from Vines 

 with leaves like Chinese parasols, or are they the produce of Vines 

 with medium leaves, leathery to the feel, with medium-sized wood 

 hard and brown as hazel 1 If any one is disposed to dispute the 

 grounds of my argument, I will furnish leaves perhaps nearly 16 inches 

 in diameter, from Vines, where I can prove that the roots are in the 

 worst possible condition, and the Grapes are far from being what would 

 be expected from Vines bearing such fine leaves. I think, if I may 

 be allowed to draw a feeble comparison, the capacity of the Vine in 

 many respects after a few years' high cultivation has never been satis- 

 factorily estimated by their leaves, any more than a phrenologist is 

 able to tell the quality or exact capacity of the human brain by feel- 

 ing the bumps of a man's head. AY. Hinds. 



CYPERUS ALTERNIFOLIUS. 



When well grown this is a most graceful plant for table decoration, 

 and deserves to be cultivated as such. Plants grown in 5-inch pots, 

 furnished with from twelve to sixteen whorls about 18 inches high, 

 are an admirable size for the table. Even plants with fewer stalks 

 are much admired ; they by no means obstruct the view across or 

 from end to end of the table. C. alternifolius variegatus is more 

 admired by some ; but it cannot be utilised to the same extent as 

 the former, on account of it losing its variegation when propagated 

 by cuttings. When otherwise propagated they are not so equally 

 developed and well furnished. The crowns of the latter are divided, 

 as a means of preserving the variegation ; and it is thought by some, 

 that when soil is light and somewhat impoverished with sand, the 

 foliage is the whiter. Neither is the absence of variegation felt on 

 the dinner - table \ surrounded with plate, and mostly every other 

 thing of a light colour, makes the grassy-green of C. alternifolius pre- 

 ferable — it contrasts so well with everything on the table. 



Eor propagation, the whorl is taken, with 6 or 8 inches of the stalk, 

 and thrown into the water-tank in the stove, and kept in the water 

 till it emits roots and begins to send up young leaves ; or put into a 

 watering-pot full of water and kept in some corner of the stove. The 

 pot is preferable, as it is less subject to a change of temperature. 



When young roots and leaves appear, they are taken from the 

 water, and the stalks are shortened to within 2 inches of the whorl. 

 The whorl is drawn through the hand, bringing the points of the 

 leaves together, which are shortened the same as the stalk. They 



