MISCELLANY OF NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE. 187 



than this pretty slirnb, which is of a ilwarf habit of growth, aud produces hand- 

 sorae campanuiate brilliant blue flowers. Being a native of the Cape, it requires 

 treatment similar to that given to Heaths, and contrasts well with the lighter 

 colours of that beautiful family. It should 1 e putted in a light rich soil, using 

 two parts of rough fibrous peat, one part of leaf mould, and one of equal parts of 

 silver sand, and well rotted cowduug : a few lumps of charcoal should be used in 

 the potting, as r,o plant lequires or enjoys a good drainage more than this. It 

 flourishes in a well-ventilated pit or greenhouse; if grown in the latter, it should 

 be near the glass. To grow dwarf handsome plants, the points of the shoots 

 shuuld be well stopped in the spring; it will then break freely, making numerous 

 shoots, all of which will be crowned with floweis by July, when it will he a 

 lovely object, and amply repay the cultivator for the pains taken. — M. Busby, 

 Stockwood Purk. (United Gardeners' Journal.) 



On British Ferns. — By the following simple method I grow, very success- 

 fully, the British Ferns. In winter I place them in a cool frame, or pit, and keep 

 them dry. In February I remove them into a pit, where I give them a slight 

 heat, and by the end of March they usually have pushed afresh ; I then remove 

 them into the greenhouse, aud there they flourish through the season. At the 

 enl of September, I replace them in the cool frame or | it. I increase them by 

 division in August, planting them in broken pots, charcoal, and turfy-peat. — 



On Moist Atmosphere in Plant Houses. — Various are the means em- 

 plojed to produce atmospheric moisture in hothouses, and many of them are, in 

 my opinion, inefficient, and also inconvenient. I am persuaded that a sudden 

 hot steam is at all times inimical to the well being of vegetation in general; 

 and no wonder. Such a steam is frequently produced by dish covers, on the 

 hotter parts of pipes or flues, or by pouring water on, or syringing very hot 

 surfaces ; and although I am a great advocate for much atmospheric moisture 

 in general, I must protest against such plans. I am of opinion that what is 

 wauled in general is, such a character of air as will guarantee the leaves of the 

 plants from any tendency to desiccation, especially during the day ; whilst at 

 night there should be even a slight deposit of moisture condensed on the leaves ; 

 some few cases, such as conserva'ories, &c, excepted. All floors to houses 

 should be grated, and, if convenient, a body of porous material should be placed 

 beneath, in large lumps ; perhaps masses of coke or charcoal would answer the 

 purpose ; water frequently poured thereon would yield a wholesome vapour at 

 all times, although in a slow raiio. In addition to this, I would for most 

 purposes have the return pine in a cemented brick trench, with a supply of water 

 at one end, and a ready escape, by plug or tap, at the other. — Gardeners' 

 Chronicle. 



On Grafiini; tii:: Cactls. — Iu making use of the word Cactus, I include 

 all the divisions of the family which formerly bore the name. 



Stocks. — 1 have used Cereus triangularis, C. speciosissima, Ouuntia Bra- 

 ziliensis, Prreskia acullata and longispiua, but find none equal to Cereus stiecio- 

 sissimus ; it is much hardier than any of the others, and not so liable to damp 

 off. 



The best method of preparing the stocks is, in February to take some of the 

 strongest shoots, from six inches to six feet, as any length will do; then with a 

 sharp knife remove the eyes for four or six inches from the bottom ; this pre- 

 vents the stocks making suckers. Let them remain in a cool place for a few 

 days to dry, to prevent damping ; then place each cutting iu small puts of good 

 rich sandy loam, anil filling in a good bark bed, withholding water for ten or 

 twentv days. When the roots protrude through the bottom ol the pots, remove 

 into larger, which, when well established, are ready for grafting. 



The operation is performed by taking off the head of the stock where the 

 columnar axis has become firm, dividing it with a sharp knife to the depth of a 

 quarter of an inch, being careful not to bruise the soft outer coat. Grafts of any 



