42 



IRISH GARDENING 



The C^hrvsantlicmum. 



111. — 'rrcaimeiu of Cuttings. 



IT is not always tlio strongest-looking luttinijs tliat 

 make the qiiickost progress in rooting. Beginners 

 getting their stock from nnrserjmen sliould not 

 always judge the vigour of the young shoots by the 

 mere look of the cuttings on delivery. For example, I 

 received by post in December last (among others) a 

 ICO cuttings, each of Mrs. Scott and W. Duckham. 

 The former were very small and puny-looking, and the 

 latter of fair size and stout, yet of the two Mrs. Scott 

 made as good an all-round rootage as its appan-ntly 

 more robust companion. 



During the very frequent cold nights of the present 

 season it was found necessary to heat the greenhouse 

 sufficiently to at least "keep out the frost." Although 

 it is, perhaps, not altogether essential, yet our aim was 

 not to let the temperature ever fall much below 40*^ F. 

 during the initial stages of rooting. After the roots 

 were well started in the cuttings inserted during the 

 latter end of December and beginning of January the 

 young plants were removed to an unhealed greenhouse, 

 and although there were several frosty nights there 

 were no apparent checks to growth, and now at the 

 latter end of February they present a fine, healthy 

 appearance, and most of the varieties are ready for 

 their first shift into 3! or 4-inch pots. When this is 

 done the plants will be allowed a few days to re- 

 establish themselves before being transferred to a cold 

 frame. The pots will be stood on a layer of sifted 

 coal ashes, keeping the leafy shoots as near to the 

 glass as possible, so as to encourage a sturdy 

 growth. 



But to return to the cuttings, temperature is not the 

 only thing to consider. There is the important subject 

 of water. Leafy cuttings are, of course, always losing 

 water by transpiration, and until roots are formed the 

 bare stem inserted in the damp soil has very little 

 power to obtain fresh supplies of moisture to make 

 good the loss. It is, therefore, most essential to devise 

 some means whereby transpiration will be, at least, 

 partially checked until the young roots appear. Our 

 own practice is to thoroughl}' water the soil after the 

 insertion of the cuttings, and then to place the pots in a 

 box (having first covered the bottom w ith a layer of fine 

 cinders), and cover them over with a sheet of glass. 

 For the first few days it is advisable to shade them from 

 direct sunlight. Should any appearance of flagging be 

 noticeable a slight overhead sprinkling with water will 

 be sufficient to restore freshness to the foliage. So 

 soon as the shoots show any sign of growth air must be 

 given — a little at first and then gradually more -until, 

 when the roots can apparently cope with the natural 

 loss of water from the foliage, the plants may be re- 

 moved from the boxes and placed upon the stage as 

 near to the glass as possible. After this give no more 

 " coddling," but plenty of air (not draughts, however), 

 and as much light asr possible. When you find that the 

 roots have well fitted the pots the young plants are 

 ready for their first shift. It is, by the way, most 

 interesting to observe the difference in the character of 



the root systi-m among tin- <.lill'i rent varieties. The 

 manner of giowtli may be iMsily seen by removing the 

 whole mass of soil by inverting the pot and tapping 

 out its contents in one unbroken mass. We have made 

 several drawings of the tliflferent types observed, and, 

 perh.ips, with the Editors permission, these may be 

 reproduced in the April issue. The compost used for 

 the first polling may be a little coarser than that used 

 for striking the cuttings. We use— 2 parts leaf-mould, 

 4 parts loam, 1 part sand, I part well-rotted manure. 

 The whole to be passed through a half-inch sieve. 

 Some growers recommend bone meal in place of the 

 well-rotted manure, but we have not tried this in the 

 first shift. Care must be taken that the manure is 

 thoroughly well rotted. 



NB. — Cuttings for pompons can be inserted up to 

 March, also cuttings for decorative purposes can still 

 be inserted. 



E. A. 



Notes from Glasnevin. 



Primula Kewensis. 



THIS beautiful primula, although a hybrid, being a 

 cross between P. floributiday a native of Arabia, 

 and P. verticillata, a native of India, has proved 

 itself to be a good and ornamental greenhouse plant. 

 Il flowers about the same time as some of the belter 

 known primulas, such as /-". sinensis, the Chinese 

 primula, P. obconica, P verticillata, and others. When 

 P. Ke7vensis was first raised, seed was very scarce, and 

 it was doubtful whether true plants would be got from 

 seed. However, these fears have been removed, and 

 seed producing true plants can now be had. It can 

 also be increased by division, but seed is infinitely more 

 satisfactory. As a decorative plant it will be invaluable, 

 being easily cultivated and having a strong constitu- 

 tion. The flowers are a good yellow, produced freely 

 with the true cowslip perfume, and the foliage is deep 

 green. In this respect il differs from one of its parents 

 {P. verticillata), which has light green foliage covered 

 with a mealy white powder. This hybrid seems very for- 

 tunately to have acquired only the best qualities of both 

 its parents. The history of this cross is interesting. It 

 originated at Kew — hence its name — where P. floribunda 

 and 1\ verticillata are grown for large groups, and 

 when in flower are usually placed side by side. When 

 a pan of seedling of P. floribunda was being picked off 

 a strange seedling was observed, which was carefully 

 tended, and eventually proved to be this hybrid. It is a 

 remarkable fact that very few hybrid primulas have 

 been raised by artificial means. Chance hybrids, of 

 which this is one, have been known to occur ; but it is 

 curious that good hybrids should not have turned up 

 more often, when one realises the number of establish- 

 ments, especially in the trade, where the different species 

 of primula are grown in quantities and often under the 

 same roof. 



The accompanying photograph is that of another 

 beautiful flowering shrub, Notospartium Cartnichcelice, 

 which has come to us from New Zealand, and is there 

 known as the ' ' Pink Broom." Last July, in the Glasnevin 



