22 THE GARDENER. [Jan. 



ingly ; and what I was ignorant of must be discovored. I was led to accuracy 

 of exi>rossion, I was practically taught the art of condensation ; for of course I 

 had no desire to spend unnecessary labour in my general education, I learnt tlie 

 meaning of a large vocabulary, and writing the words down • correctly was of 

 course an orthographical exercise for me. These, then, were the two principal 

 supplementary methods by which I learnt to spell correctly. Here I must 

 observe tliat many years of experience have convinced me that no surer way of 

 attaining so desirable an accomplishment (if I may so term it) as correct spelling 

 is possible. It is a natural process ; and everyday experience confirms the use- 

 fulness of the practice. I know a young man who was employed as an errand- 

 boy in a solicitor's office who had no education, but who, having by his persever- 

 ance conquered the art of forming his letters, was gradually employed in copying 

 in the office, and who by this means became an accurate speller. By the same 

 process, moreover, a good business-hand is readily attained ; for as you would 

 write with accuracy and legibl}", you must necessarily at first write slowly and 

 carefully ; and so the preliminary groundwork in a gardener's mental education 

 is slowly but surely established. 



[Will the writer of this kindly favour us again with his address- -which we 

 regret having mislaid — as we wish to communicate with liiin. — Ed.] 

 {To he continued.) 



CLIANTHUS DAMPIERI. 



It is a well-known fact that this fine Australian creeper is bad to 

 manage on its own roots, being very impatient of water, and liable to 

 damp off, especially in dull weather. Being anxious to have some speci- 

 mens of this most beautiful Clianthus, it occurred to me that by 

 grafting it on some of the less delicate varieties we might have better 

 plants. Last July I grafted this Clianthus on a very strong-growing 

 variet}^, the name of which I do not know. The result is very satis- 

 factory ; and I would recommend those who have a difficulty in grow- 

 ing this plant well to graft it on Clianthus puniceus, or any of the 

 other varieties, and I am sure they will not be disappointed in hav- 

 ing good plants, either trained in the balloon shape for pot-culture, 

 or planted in the border of an intermediate house. The mode of 

 grafting is very simple and effective. The stock and scion being 

 both in a growing state, but having just acquired a woody consistency 

 at the part to be operated on, an oblique cut is made on the stock, and 

 the scion being made in the form of a wedge, so as to fit the incision 

 as exactly as possible, the part is then tied up with a piece of matting. 

 The plant may then be put into a moderately warm, close, and shady 

 place, and in the course of three weeks or a month the scion will 

 begin to grow, after which the top of the stock may be cut off down 

 to the part where the union has taken place. Richard. 



