FOREIGN NOTICES, 



193 



riant tlie plant. In double composite flowers, 

 such as the Dahlia; which consist of a number of 

 florets upon a common receptacle, though the 

 most of these florets may have their parts of 

 fructitication changed into petals, others may be 

 unchanged, though they remain unnoticed until 

 the peials fall off; and from these, when seeds 

 are produced, more double flowers may be ex- 

 pected than from seeds saved from more single 

 Varieties, because possessing a greater constitu- 

 tional tendency in that direction. Tliis wiJ more 

 especially be the result when, as in the other 

 cases, high cultivation is resorted to whenever 

 the seed appears. Thus something like superfe- 

 tation is induced in the seed, which leads it after- 

 wards, when sown, to develope itself more in 

 leaves and petals (which the botanists tell us arc 

 the same thing,) instead of flowers producing 

 seed; and this altogether independent of the cul- 

 ture it receives for that season. When any of 

 our friends, therefore, look somewhat disconso- 

 late on their beds of stocks nearly all single, they 

 may rest next to assured that the culture they 

 imparled had little or nothing to do with it. The 

 seeds they sowed would have been single in any 

 circumstance. The matter is diflcrent in the 

 perennial plants, such as the daisy and the prim- 

 rose. Without resorting to seeds at all, the plant 

 Trom being divided, having its soil frequently 

 changed and stimulated by rich compost, will 

 often gradually change from the single into the 

 double flowering condittion, upon exactly the 

 same principles; luxuriance and fruitfulness being 

 ever opposed to each other. Several years ago 

 we carried out these ideas with considerable 

 success, and such as they are, now commend 

 them to the noi^ice of our friends who have more 

 time at their crmmand. 



Secondly. On much the same principle, care 

 should be taken to preserve double flowers, when 

 propagating them by cuttings, runners, and di- 

 visions of the root,— by giving them the same 

 careful cultivation, otherwise they are apt to re- 

 turn to the primitive single state. To secure this 

 object effectually, two considerations slundd be 

 attended to. If a rich stimulating system of cul- 

 tivation is at the first resorted to, there will be 

 the likelihood of having a luxuriant development 

 of stem and leaves, at the expense of depriving 

 the flowers of their requisite proportions. In all 

 free-growing luxuriant plants, it will be -wise 

 policy not to over stimulate the plant until the 

 bloom appears; and the increased nourishment 

 judiciously given will then enlarge the size of the 

 flower, while the rest of the plant would continue 

 to maintain a comparative dwarf and stubby cha- 

 racter. In choosing seed when it is produced, let 

 it be selected from such plants. Then, again, if 

 the size of the flower is to be maintained, and 

 prevented degenerating into its primitiA'e condi- 

 tion, rich composts should not only be used, but 

 fresh soil, if possible, given to them every year. 



Now is a good time to propagate all these pretty 

 desirables, at least all that are of a comparative 

 hardy nature. Many of them, when the flower 

 stems are decayed, maybe divided at the root; 

 such as the Rocket, which with the Wall-flower 

 and Sweet William, Lychnias, &c., will strike by 

 small cuttings in light soil under a hand-light, 

 under the same treatment as is resorted to with 

 Pinks. In the case of using hard stems of Rock- 

 ets and Wall-flowers, &c., it is advisable, after 

 cutting through with a sharp knife at a joint, to 

 run the knife upwards a short distance, through 

 the centre of the cutting, and then to make a 

 similar incision at right angles with the first, so 

 that the base of the cutting shall consist of four 

 equal divisions. This exposes a greater portion 

 of the inner bark, and roots in consequence are 

 more quickly and plentifully produced. Cottage 

 Gardener. .... 



Fruit-packikg.-— A little advice on this sub- 

 ject may prove of .some interest, both to the young 

 gardener, the amateur, and the cottager ; it being 

 often imperfectly understood, or too carelessly 

 practised. 



In former days our fruits travelled by coaches, 

 or b)^ the ordinary road-waggon, but now principally 

 by steam ; and it is to modes of packing adapted 

 to that kind of transit that we would now invite 

 attention. By the former mode of travelling, the 

 box or basket was subjected to a loose jolting ac- 

 tion ; b\' the latter, it undergoes a perpetual jarr- 

 ing ; and although the action of the steam-carriage 

 is by fax more uniform than that of the old coach, 

 yet these little jars, unless provided against, by 

 good packing, are very damaging to tender fruits, 

 or those with a thin skin and a soft pulp. 



The kinds of material to pack in are the first 

 consideration ; and here we may observe, that 

 whatever the kind be, it is, as we think, absolute- 

 ly essential, that it be of an elastic character, and 

 at the same time possess a kind of strength or 

 soundness which, after travelling many miles and 

 enduring many hard knocks, shall yet preserve its 

 elasticit)- somewhat unimpaired. Thus, as an ex- 

 ample, fine grass from lawns which have been 

 mowed several times, or some from beneath the 

 shade of trees, in a dry state, is a very tempting- 

 looking material, and looks soft as silk ; but for 

 general purposes the second cut from upland mow- 

 ing will be found far preferable, as longer preserv- 

 ing its elasticitj-. 



Closeness, not to say tightness, in packing is the 

 great essential ; the one great maxim to bear in 

 mind is this, Pressure is better than Friction, 

 We well remember calling on an old schoolfellow, 

 about twelve or fifteen years since, to advise with 

 him as to the best mode of packing peaches ; lor 

 at that period we grew the finest peaches in Eng- 

 land ; for a few years we had the honor of beating 

 all competitors or nearly so, our fruit at that pe- 

 riod averaiiing as much as 11 oimces, and some- 

 times nearlv reaching 13. The schoolfellow allud- 



