Ul 
THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 55 
be pressed close against the wire, for if it is an inch or so from it, 
a hollow space will be left, for this hollow cannot be filled without 
damaging the young and tender growth. The centre of the basket 
and the space between the balls of soil must be filled in rather 
firmly, and sufficient soil added to support a second row of plants 
about four inches above the first. The number of plants required 
for each basket must be determined by its size, but for those not 
large two rows will suffice, as some of the shoots of the plants on 
the surface may be brought down and trained over the wirework. In 
planting the surface of the basket, place them rather close together 
round the outside, and fill up the middle by putting them about six 
inches apart. For small baskets—say those not exceeding twelve 
inches in diameter—one row of plants will suffice for furnishing the 
sides, and six or eight forthe surface. A layer of moss {must be 
placed next the wirework, to keep the compost in its place, and the 
latter should consist of peat loam and leaf-mould in equal parts. 
As soon as the baskets are filled, they must be suspended in a 
convenient position in the stove or vinery, and all the attention 
requisite will be to supply liberally with water. Syringe frequently, 
and regulate the growth as may be necessary, until they commence 
to grow freely. The water supply must not be too liberal, or the 
soil will become sour before the roots run freely into it; but after 
the soil is well filled with roots, it may be most abundant without 
the slightest danger of its being otherwise than beneficial. The 
undergrowth will require to be trained regularly over the sides of 
the basket by means of strands of bast secured to the wirework, and 
the portion of the outside row on the top must be brought over the 
sides and trained downwards. The remainder should be pegged 
down as soon as six inches or so in height, and then allowed to grow 
naturally. When coming into bloom, they can be suspended in 
suitable positions in the conservatory, and, with proper attention, 
will remain in perfection a very long time. The compact-growing 
kinds are the most suitable, for the tall, long-jointed sorts, such as 
Achimenes longiflora and its varieties, are not adapted for basket 
culture, and if selected for that purpose, the results will be unsatis- 
factory. 
DRAWING TAUGHT IN FIVE MINUTES. 
= HOSE who follow our few and simple directions will find it a quite easy 
#| matter to draw a reversed copy of an engraving, at the first attempt, 
and in a few minutes, Having made a good beginning, they are 
advised to go on, and, instead of copying a picture, to make an original 
drawing of a natural object. ‘Practice makes perfect,” it is said ; 
but the peculiarity, and, indeed, the originality of the plan we shall now unfold is, 
that for copying any drawing or print there is no practice at all needed; the 
beginner will succeed perfectly at the very first attempt. Having succeeded, 
the beginner will be alone to blame if any easy success does not lead to something 
higher and of more enduring value. 
The materials required are a few common black-lead pencils, a small square of 
common window glass, a sheet of paper, a smooth table, and a printof any kind. 
February. 
