322 THE ELOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



when young shoots have made wood. About an inch long, the 

 shoots intended for cuttings should be taken off with a sharp knife, 

 and with a small portion of the old wood attached, or what is gene- 

 rally termed a heel ; I take off as few leaves as possible. 



The cuttings are inserted in pots half filled with potsherds ; over 

 these I place a little moss, to prevent the soil getting into the 

 drainage. I then fill the pots to within an inch and a half of the 

 rim with a mixture of peat and sand, taking care to use Reigate 

 sand, then fill it up with pure sand, and water with a fine-rose pot. 

 The cuttings are inserted about half-an-inch apart, leaving room for 

 a bell-glass to cover them. I water them slightly with a fine rose, 

 to settle the sand about them, and then plunge in a slight bottom- 

 heat ; the glasses are wiped every morning at least, or twice a day if 

 they are damp, watering when it is required with a very fine-rose pot, 

 taking care to keep the sun off them, for if this is not attended to 

 the former labour is in vain. They will strike in a very short time, 

 and when well rooted into the peat they are potted off into thumb 

 pots, and shifted as often as they require it. The soil I prefer 

 for potting them in is two parts good turfy peat, one part decom- 

 posed cow-dung, and one of sand and charcoal (clean river sand I 

 prefer, if I can get it) ; these are well mixed together, but not sifted, 

 as I have a dislike to sifted soil for all pot plants — I use it as rough 

 as possible, for if the soil is open and porous the plants will thrive 

 better, growing strong and healthy ; if, on the other hand, it is close, 

 they will never be seen in a healthy condition. 



The flowering season of the Chorozema is from March to the end 

 of May. I prefer shifting them as soon as they are out of flower. 

 I give them large shifts, and plenty of drainage, using oyster shells 

 and charcoal for the purpose, and putting a little moss over the 

 charcoal. 



"When the potting is finished, I give the plants a good watering, 

 to soak the soil well through. I give the large-leaved specimens 

 plenty of weak manure water through the summer months. Great 

 care is requisite in the autumn and winter as regards watering, as 

 the plants are then in a state of repose, and if it is not judiciously 

 done the roots will rot, and the plants become sickly and die. The 

 plants should never be exposed in the open air, but kept in a house 

 or pit in the summer, shaded when the sun is powerful, as that is 

 injurious to the young shoots and foliage. The species belonging to 

 this genus are not very numerous, but all very beautiful, and well 

 worth v the greatest care that can be given to them. I will enumerate 

 a few which I know and can recommend ; — Chorozema Lawrenceiana, a 

 beautiful species when well grown, but seldom in good condition, 

 a hybrid of Mrs. Lawrence's, of Ealing Park ; C. varium, a very 

 pretty species, the plant is a very robust grower, native of Xew 

 Holland, introduced in 1836; G. var. iUcifoliitm, this is also a pretty 

 species, nearly allied to the old cordate, the colour of the flower is 

 scarlet but small, native of New Holland, introduced in 1803 ; 

 C. DicJcsonii, this is a stiff-growing little species, forming a beautiful 

 plant and very distinct, colour scarlet and yellow, introduced 1836 ; 

 C. ovata, a lovely species when well grown, it makes a fine show 



