182 MISCELLANY OF NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE. 



of application, and accomplishes the purpose effectually. After the liquid has 

 remaiaed over the shoots for several days, it may easily be washed off by a 

 syringing or use of the water engine, water-pot, &c. This method not only 

 kills the insects it envelopes, but they cannot find food if even they escape such 

 destruction, for the young tips of the shoots and buds which they feed upon are 

 rendered unfit for their voracious appetites. Strong tobacco-water being pre- 

 paid and dip the shoots will also answer, but it is more costly. Sulphur and 

 Scotch snuff, or pepper and sulphur dusted wholly over, and underside too of the 

 foliage, buds, &c, will partially effect the desired object, but nothing I have 

 tried equals the mode I recently adopted. Juvknis. 



To Destroy the Scale Insect. — I have a few plants of the Oleandar and 

 Camellias which for the last two seasons have been a good deal affected with 

 the sca'e insect ; it struck me to try and cover over the parts attacked with a 

 solution of starch, I did so, and in three days gave a repetition of the appli- 

 cation ; these attentions wholly answered the end contemplated, the plants are 

 clean and healthy. I applied the starch by means of the syringe, it hurts no 

 part of the plant, 1 ut appears in all respects beneficial. Senex. 



Soaking Seeds to hasten germination. — Seeds that are difficult to vegetate 

 may be hastened two or more weeks by steeping them in water of about 80 de- 

 grees of temperature, and placing the vessel where the temperature can be so 

 maintained. I keep the seed thus immersed for six or seven hours, then remove 

 the vessel, strain the water from it, cover it over with a cloth, and remove it 

 where it may be about 60 degrees of temperature, turning the seeds once or 

 twice. As soon as the seeds appear to be bursting then take and sow them. 

 I have adopted this method with many of the seeds I have received from the 

 Cape, West Indies, and other remote places, and with much advantage. 



Ci, ericus. 



Hydrangea Japonica. — In the notices on new plants in last year's Cabinet, 

 I observed the above plant recommended. I then procured a strong one, and 

 it is now in piofuse bloom in my greenhouse, having 24 large heads of floweis. 

 The flowers in the centre of each head are of a pretty lavender-blue, and the 

 barren outer portion of them a pure white, which produces a very pretty and 

 striking contrast. It is a beautiful and noble looking object, and deserves a 

 place wherever it can be grown. It is cheap, easy of culture, and readily 

 increased. Flora. 



On saving Seeds of Ten-week and other Stocks. — I resided three years 

 in Germany in one of the largest floral establishments, and where the best mode 

 of obtaining double stocks was attempted 1 ever saw. We had many thousands 

 i,f pots of the various kinds, and at the first potting had them in small ones, so 

 kept till they showed a flower ; and on ascertaining that the single ones had 

 only four petals all such were destroyed, when it was discovered that they had 

 five" petals such were repotted into larger ones, and from such only were seed 

 saved. The plants being removed to a distant garden, so that they might be 

 kept free from impregnation with others ; each class too of Stocks were kept re- 

 mote, so that an intermixture of colours was prevented thereby. 



Ranunculus Bed. — The season is at hand when the bloom is over, take care 

 not to allow the bed to be rained upon after the entire tdoom is over. If the 

 roots are not so protected, and heavy rain descends, they will be likely soon to 

 vegetate afresh, and the least which would materially damage the next year's 

 bloom. The roots must be protected by a canvas or other covering, and as soon 

 as the foliage becomes yellow let the routs be carefully taken up and dried. 



A Practical Florist. 



