THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 13] 



of temperature, and it is always uniformly moist without being over 

 wet, unless the bed is made up on a surface of undraiued clay, which, 

 of course, is not to be taken into the reckoning when we are 

 addressing sensible gardeners. Never let them get dust dry, never 

 make them excessively wet, never let them be exposed to a burning 

 sun, but treat them as nearly as possible as hardy plants, aud let them 

 enjoy all the summer sunshine and fresh breezes as you would the 

 hardiest alpines, and house them for the winter early in the month 

 of October. 



Cuttings strike very slowly but surely, as with proper treatment 

 not one in fifty need be lost. Cuttings, if made short, and of the 

 extreme ends of half-ripe branches, will strike at any season, but the 

 only safe season for beginners is the spring. The points of 3hoots 

 should be removed for the purpose, and should be only an inch or an 

 inch and a-balf long. These cuttings, divested of their lowest leaves, 

 are to be potted in pure silver sand. Cover the cuttings with bell- 

 glasses, and place the pans in a cold pit, which is preferable to 

 placing them on bottom-heat. When they have struck root, which 

 may be known by the fresh growth of the points of the cuttings, pot 

 in small pots, using sandy peat and placing them in a frame or pit, 

 and as soon as they have again begun to grow, again rem jve them to 

 the greenhouse, and there treat them as we have above diiected for 

 old plants. 



It is of the utmost importance that the pots containing epacrises 

 should be well drained, aud in potting extra care must be taken to 

 pack the crocks so that there will be no fear of the soil washing down 

 and stopping the drainage, for a water-logged condition will soon 

 prove fatal to them. The soil should never be sifted, but broken 

 with the hand to the size of walnuts, and with all the dust and grit 

 added in filling in. la case of compulsory neglect in regard to 

 potting, they may be shifted when taken into the greenhouse for the 

 wint.r, but it is greatly preferable to repot them before turning out 

 in summer. Take care in potting to merely loosen the roots with 

 the hind so as to remove a little of the old soil without distressing 

 the roots, but never cut the roots with a kuife except iu some 

 extreme case, aud then cautiously. 



GARDENING IN AUSTRALIA. 

 ILLE MELBOURNE BOTANIC GARDENS. 



[R. Al\ R. GUILFOYLE, the energetic manager of the 

 Melbourne Botanic Gardens, has sent us his third 

 Annual Report, from which we make the following 

 interesting extracts : — 



'• One of the pi ioeipal features in my original design 

 was tin- creation throughout the Gardens of spacious lawns, in some 

 cases occupying places where formal and narrow walks existed; thus 

 giving to suitable places a park-like appearance, and affording a 

 bright and elastic turf, over which the visitors could roam at 

 Hay. 



