288 THE GARDENER. [June 1870. 



Your Calceolarias (we presume they are shrubby kinds) may be re-potted at 

 once into 8-inch pots, and treat them like Pelargoniums, taking especial care to 

 keep them growing freely and free from green-fly. 



You can grow the Pelargoniums and Calceolarias in a cold frame; the Fuchsias 

 as directed.] 



Cultivation of the Musk Plant. — The Musk (Mimulus moschatus) is such a 

 universal favourite, that one is often surprised pains are not taken to make it 

 much more attractive in form than is usually seen, instead of its being allowed to 

 grow weakly and straggling, and of a kind of consumptive appearance. It is really 

 capable, with some assistance, of doing much more than people appear to imagine. 

 The root3 of Musk, like those of the common herb Mint, run under the surface 

 of the soil, which, by continued watering, loses the nourishment so essential to the 

 plant. Cuttings, as a general rule, make much better plants than those obtained 

 by a division of the roots ; and cuttings strike easily enough if taken early and 

 placed in pots. To grow the Musk finely, a vigorous young cutting, well rooted, 

 should be taken and planted in some soil, about 4 inches deep, in a flower-pot 

 that would hold half a peck, and then placed in the warmest part of the green- 

 house, where it will grow rapidly. As the plant makes growth, the leading shoot 

 should be pinched out, to induce the plant to make side growth ; and as this 

 growth develops, more soil should be added, until the pot is filled to within an 

 inch of the top : by this time the pot is well filled with roots that have struck 

 out from all parts of the plant thus buried, hence it grows more vigorously than 

 when it has only a few roots running under the surface. A number of neatly-cut 

 sticks should now be placed some 10 inches apart all round the edge of the pot, 

 and be drawn and tied together at the top, thus forming a cone about 18 inches 

 high above the rim. Some fine matting or bast should then be passed round each 

 stick, commencing at the bottom ; and as the plant continues to grow, place these 

 bands round it to keep the foliage inside. As the flowers make their appearance 

 they should be pinched off, until the plant has quite filled the space enclosed by 

 the sticks, which will not occupy long, for the plant at this stage may almost be 

 seen to grow, and then it should be allowed to bloom at will. A frequent turning 

 of the pot will prevent the foliage from being drawn on one side by the sun or 

 light. The shoots that find their way forth through the sticks can be allowed to 

 fall down round the pot, which will soon be almost invisible. The whole then 

 presents the appearance of a floral pillar, about 2 feet in height, covered with 

 flowers of a larger size than those generally seen in the Musk plant, and not a 

 stick of its support visible. By this time it i-equires a little assistance with clear 

 manure-water, not too strong. Frequent syringings of the plant with chilled 

 water is of great and essential service. 



Fekn Culture (J. S.) — Mr B. S. Williams's 'Select Ferns andLycopods' is 

 the best book we have on the culture of Ferns in general, and contains descrip- 

 tions of all the best sorts, from which you can readily make a selection. The 

 price of the book is 5s., and it can be obtained from any bookseller. 



For the purpose you name — i.e., greenhouse culture in 48 (5-inch) pots, for the 

 dinner-table — you will find the following sorts good: — Lomaria Gibba, Lomaiia 

 ciliata, Pteris cretica albo-lineata, Lastrea filix-mas cristata, Gleichenia dicarpa, 

 Asplenium bulbiferum, Asplenium Fabianum, Adiantum hispidulum, and Adiau- 

 tum formosum. 



