302 THE GARDENER. [July 



AVe shall consider, in the first place, the mode of multiplying by offsets. 

 Some authorities recommend early summer; others any time through- 

 out the year when offshoots can be had, unless in the dead of winter ; 

 others, again, strictly adhere to the early part of August, — each, no doubt, 

 considering his plan the best. Our own practice has been to adopt the 

 August time ; and our reason for doing so is the fact that Auriculas, 

 Polyanthuses, and Primroses start into a quiet autumn growth, more or 

 less, according to the nature of the weather. This growth serves the 

 end exactly of re-establishing old plants in the soil before winter, after 

 being shaken out of the soil and repotted into new soil, a process 

 necessary for flowering-plants once a-year ; therefore this period serves 

 the double purpose of potting and extending the stock. Moreover, 

 the soil is in much better condition when the time arrives for the 

 plants to flower and make their annual growth, being neither so much 

 exhausted by watering or any other means, as if the plants were 

 potted in spring or summer. 



The method of separating the offsets from the mother plant is 

 performed by first turning the ball out of the pot, disengaging the 

 soil with the fingers entirely ; the youngsters are then disengaged 

 by slipping them off by the thumb and forefinger with the least 

 damage to old or young. Those offsets furnished with one or two 

 fibres situated at the base of the plants, are in better condition 

 than those higher up ; they strike readier into the soil, and ultimately 

 prove the most robust stools or crowns. Proceeding with the opera- 

 tion, the old plant is next examined, its tap-root shortened back to 

 within 1 inch of the base of the lowest leaves ; the roots are next 

 rinsed in pure water perfectly free of the soil. It will now be seen if 

 any part of the root is affected with a disease called blackrot — a most 

 destructive malady, which always proves fatal when it gets hold of a 

 plant, and is allowed to remain or take its course. The only remedy is 

 to cut out the affected part without leaving a trace behind, no matter 

 at what apparent sacrifice ; then carefully dust the wound thickly over 

 with powdered charcoal, and repot the plant. Next give attention to the 

 cuttings or offsets ; remove any withered leaves by pulling them clean 

 away from the stem, inspect the root, and w^ash as directed for the old 

 plant. If the root is any way damaged by the separating process from 

 the mother plant, cut it clean away, and dust with charcoal. Then 

 comes the potting. The size of the pots for this purpose ought to be 

 those of 3 or 4 inches diameter ; and the offsets are inserted around the 

 edge of the pots at equal distances in threes and fours, according to the 

 size of pots and plants, but they must not be crowded, — presuming that 

 these pots have been washed from all impurities, as also the crocks in- 

 tended to act as drainage ; or should the pots be new, they ought to be 



