220 ON THE HEARTSEASE. 



ARTICLE II. 



REMARKS ON PROPAGATING THE HEARTSEASE. 



BY PENSE. 



My intention in sending the remark on propagating the Hearts- 

 ease, is with a view to render an acceptable service to the public, 

 for the success of a collection must depend mainly upon this 

 process. I do not share in the fears that have been expressed, 

 that I shall make the public so knowing, that they will not only 

 strike their own plants, but also supply their neighbours, to the 

 injury of the trade. It is no disadvantage to a nursery-man for a 

 private person to amuse himself with striking a few cuttings ; for 

 though it may enable him to keep up his old sorts, he will naturally 

 as he grows more and more fond of the fancy, purchase the new 

 and beautiful kinds, which are annually raised from seed. Neither 

 is there any objection to his giving away a few plants to hisfriends 

 for it helps to extend the fancy, and those who began with a stock 

 that cost them nothing, may soon become purchasers in their turn. 

 All parties must remember, that if they wish to keep pace with 

 the improvements that are continually going on, they must be 

 always adding a few of the newest and best sorts to their collec- 

 tion ; for the flower may still be said to be almost in its infancy, 

 and what we admire one year is almost sure to be surpassed the 

 next. I think, indeed, that novelty is a point to which the judges 

 ought to pay more attention than they generally do at exhibitions, 

 provided of course, that all other good qualities accompany it. 

 And in this respect, as indeed in every other in which this flower 

 is concerned, the amateur need not fear to compete with the nur- 

 sery-man, for if his stock is smaller, his attention is probably less 

 divided. 



I have found there is an inconvenience, and frequent disap- 

 pointment, attending the habit of putting in large pieces as cuttings 

 I will therefore point out how I have succeeded in various ways 

 in the use of small ones. 



If they are intended to be struck under hand glasses, there should 

 be a shady situation chosen for them. Then prepare some finely 

 sifted mould, consisting of good loam and leaf mould, if it can be 

 procured, to which add about one fourth-part of road sand, or 

 river sand. Perhaps the best plan is to add the ingredients toge_ 

 ther first, and sift them afterwards, as this will mix them more 



