14 ON THE PROPAGATION OF PLANTS. 



I'.ibemi. — Hampstead Lily, from Mr. Pearson, of Hampstead, was the only 

 one shown, it is a clear white in colour, compact in habit and a profuse bloomer. 

 It received a prize. 



1845. 



Pelargoniums. — -Two seedlings, named Competitor and Rosetta, from Mr. K. 

 Beck, was awarded prizes ; the former is a superior shaped flower with rosy-pink 

 lower petals and dark crimson upper ones. Besides these Mr. Beck showed 

 Dawn of Day, lower petals salmon-pink, upper petals salmon-scarlet, having a 

 red spot ; a pretty good shaped flower. Shiner, of similar colour and quality. 

 Marcus, rosy lower petals with white centre; the upper ones dark crimson 

 belted with rose ; and Queen of the Isles, lower petals of a pretty rose colour, 

 slightly feathered and lighter to the centre, upper prtaL dark crimsou. 



Calceolarias. — Prize. Oompacta, Mr. Gaines, a distinct and fine flower. Prize, 

 The Pet, Mr. Standish, Bagshot, a pretty dwarf variety. In addition, Mr. 

 Standish exhibited Emperor, pale straw, full of small crimson spots; and Ovid, 

 a distinct and good flower. Mr. Holmes, of Sudbury, showed London Rival, 

 pale sulphur with luge spots of maroon, fine; and Hon. Mrs. Harrison, a 

 pretty spotted and good shaped flower; and Mr. Gaines showed Tricolor, 

 Climax, Picta, and Fh/ja, the latter a beautiful spotted flower. 



ARTICLE V. 



ON THE PROPAGATION OF PLANTS. 



BY A LONDON NURSEKYMAN. 



A correspondent having recently solicited some instructions on the 

 best general methods of increasing stove, greenhouse, and similar 

 plants, I forward you the mode I have pursued in each case for the 

 last twenty years, on an extensive scale, and with great success. 



1. By Seeds. — When an exotic is in flower that will produce 

 seed, it should be put in a situation where it may receive benefit from 

 the rays of the sun, and, if the weather permit, plentiful supplies of 

 air and water, that the seeds may be sufficiently ripened and swelled to 

 their proper size ; for on these points much depends as to the future 

 germination of the seed when sown. If the plant should happen to 

 be exposed to the open air, as is the case with greenhouse ones in 

 summer, it should be removed to a situation where showers cannot 

 injure the impregnating and fertilizing part of the fructification. 

 When the seeds (semina) become loose, and rattle in the seed-vessel 

 or pod (pericarpium) when shaken, they are ripe, and should be 

 gathered when quite dry ; and, after exposure to the air in a shaded 

 place, that they may still be further dried and hardened, done up in 

 separate packets and named ; they may then be carefully put by in a 

 dry place till the following spring. From the latter end of February 

 to the beginning of April is the most proper time for sowing exotic 



