FOREIGN NOTICES. 



practical use ; and we entertain no doubt that it will receive very important improvements as 

 soon as it comes into the hands of those who are conversant with the removal of trees. 



Since the above was written, we have been informed that a machine similar to Mr. M'Glashax's 

 was contrived some yeare ago by Mr. Strutt. 



HovEA Celsl — Tliis is univereally admitted to be one of the most beautiful of greenhouse 

 plants J but it is also one of the most difficult to induce to form what is termed a handsome 

 specimen. It is easy enough to grow the plant to a considerable size, but its straggling habit, 

 and tendency to run up without producing lateral branches, render it no easy matter to make it 

 anything approaching a compact, well-furnished specimen. Well propagated, dwarf bushy plants 

 must be got to begin with. They must not be pot-bound or stunted, for it is almos-t impossible 

 to form handsome specimens of plants that have not been well attended to from the first; size is 

 of little importance, but whether small or large, the plant selected to form a specimen should 

 be in vigorous health and furnished witli branches in proportion to its size. Supposing plants of 

 this description to be procured about this season, the first thing is to examine the shape of the 

 roots; and if these are abundant and healthy, shift into pots a size larger. Potting is a very 

 simple operation, but in the case of this plant, as in th-at of many others, future success very 

 much depends upon the manner in which it is performed, especially during earlj' stages of growth, 

 Efficient drainage should bo carefully provided by means of a proper arrangement of a moderate 

 quantity of potsherds, covering these with a thin layer of fibry pieces of the soil, intermixed 

 with plenty of sharp sand. After potting, the plants should be placed where they wiU not be 

 exposed to drying currents of air, and water must be very cautiously administered till the roots 

 strike into the fres-h soil. In the meantime, however, a moist atmosphere, and a sprinkling 

 overhead with the syringe morning and evening, will be beneficial. Nothing is more injurious 

 to this plant than allowing it when young to suffer for want of pot room; but beginners must 

 avoid the one-shift system, otherwise they will probable find this extreme more ruinous than the 

 opposite. By giving a small shift as early in spring as it may be necessary to do so, and a more 

 liberal one — but this must be regulated by the vigor and wants of the plants — early in June, 

 both extremes will be avoided. Wlien the plants attain a useful size one shift in a season will 

 be sufficient, and when in large pots, with a careful and liberal supply of water at all seasons, 

 and an occasional watering with weak, clear manure water while making their growth, they will 

 be found to do very well for several seasons without shifting. 



Immediately after potting means must be used to secure a compact bushy habit of growth, and 

 the best method I have ever found of effecting this is removing the nwre prominent buds by 

 cutting back the shoots, and bending and pegcring down the more vigorous ones, so that the buds 

 desired to start into growth may be on tlte highest part of the shoot; this, with attention during 

 the growing season, to regulate the growth by stopping over-luxuriant shoot-", and bending them 

 down, will be found to effectually correct the naturally straggling habit of this otherwise first 

 rate plant; and if these trifling attentions are commenced early and persevered in, well-formed 

 specimens will be the result During the spring months the- plants will enjoy a situation close to 

 the glass, where the night temperature may average about 50°, and 10° or 15° higher by day; 

 and where a moist atmosphere can be maintained, and air admitted freely on every favorable 

 opportunity, without exposing the plants to cold currents. "When mild weather sets in, they 

 should be removed to a cold frame, which will be found au excellent situation foi* encoiu-aging 

 active robust growth during the summer ; but some attention will be necessary to guard against 

 a sudden change of temperature to whi^;h the plants might be exposed, especially if cold cloudy 

 weather occur immediately after their removal to the cold frame ; this, however, will be easily 

 managed by keeping the lights close, and covering art night, or admitting air, according to the 

 state of the weather. Unless the frame occupies a position shaded from the mid-daj''8 sun, a 

 thin screen should be thrown over the gbxss for a few hours in the middle of bright days, and 

 air must be freely admitted day and night, merely putting on the lights during fine summer 

 weather to assist in maintaining a moist atmosphere, by shutting them down for an hour or two, 

 after syringing in the evening, and to protect the plants from heavy storms of rain. They must 



