: REMARKS UPON THE PROPAGATION OF PLANTS. 31 



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ARTICLE IV. 



REMARKS UPON THE PROPAGATION OF PLANTS. 



BY A LONDON NURSERYMAN. 



3. Offsets. — Bulbous and tuberous-rooted kinds of exotics are 

 most commonly raised this way, or else by seed ; but seedlings being 

 so much longer than offsets before they arrive at a state for flowering 

 occasions this mode of propagation to be seldom resorted to. The 

 bulbous genera, such as Ixia, Gladiolus, Morcea, Antholyza, &c, 

 after they have done flowering, should be suffered to dry till the fol- 

 lowing October, when they must be taken out of the pots, for repotting 

 in fresh soil ; this is the time for increasing by offsets, which, after 

 they are divided and taken from the main or principal bulb, may be 

 potted in small separate pots, in a mixture of equal parts of loam, 

 decayed leaves, and sandy peat ; the pots being previously well 

 drained by broken potsherds. After they are potted they must be set 

 in a cool frame, requiring only to be protected from frost and heavy 

 rains. The smaller bulbs may remain here all the season, but the 

 larger ones, and those likely to produce flower-stems may, after the 

 pots are well filled with roots, be taken and placed in a convenient 

 place in the greenhouse, where, if kept regularly watered, they will 

 flower well. 



4. Layers. — Many kinds of exotics, as Punica, Nerium, Jasminum, 

 Myrtus, &c, succeed best by this mode of propagation. In April or 

 May choose for this purpose some pliable young branches of the 

 desired kinds, properly situated for laying ; let them be brought down 

 gently and inserted into the pot of the parent plant, or, where this is 

 not conveniently practicable, into other pots, filled with the same 

 kinds of compost, and placed near enough for this purpose. Secure 

 them firmly down with wooden pegs, and cover them about an inch 

 and a half with soil ; then lay a little mulch or some mowings of 

 short grass on the surface to preserve the moisture ; refresh them 

 with water when required. Some of the shoots thus laid will be 

 effectually rooted the same summer, or by Michaelmas, and fit for 

 repotting into separate pots as directed for cuttings ; such as are not, 

 must be permitted to remain till the following spring. 



5. Inarching, or Grafting hy approach, — Citrus, Punica, and 



