240 MISCELLANY OF NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE. 



Pinks, pipings of, if struck, may be taken off and planted in the situations 

 intended for blooming in next season, as early as possible. 



Plants of Herbaceous Calceolarias should now be divided, taking off 

 offsets and planting them in small pots. Cut off the flower stems of such as 

 have done blooming to induce shoots to be vigorous. See article in July 

 number. 



Plants of Chinese Chrysanthemums should be repotted if necessary ; for if 

 done later the blossom will be small. Use the richest soil. Pinch offthe heads 

 to cause the production of laterals, so as to have a head of flowers. 



Plants of Pentstemons should be divided by taking off offsets, or increased by 

 striking slips. They should be struck in heat. 



Pansiks. — The tops and slips of Pansies should now be cut off, and be inserted 

 under a hand-glass, or where they can be shaded a little. They will root freely, 

 and be good plants for next season. 



Polyanthus and Auricula sred should be sown immediately, or otherwise 

 be kept till spring. 



Roses. — Where plants have been provided for the purpose of forcing in 

 autumn or winter, and are plunged in the open ground, twist the pot round to 

 break the roots which may have extended below the pot. 



Ranunculus beds should now be prepared as follows: — The depth of soil to be 

 two feet and a half, of a rich clayey, friable loam, retentive of moisture; about 

 six or eight inches from the surface to be a rich light loam, of a sandy nature. 

 Remove the whole of the soil with the remains of the dung given last year, and 

 turn up the subsoil a whole spade in depth, breaking it well. If the beds are 

 allowed to remain in this state for a day or two to sweeten the subsoil it will be 

 an advantage. Then place upon the subsoil a layer of cow-dung, at least one 

 year old, four inches thick ; then scatter over it the fine powder of new-slaked 

 lime, to correct any acidity and destroy the worms. Then fill up with new 

 light soil, taken from the surface of the old tulip-bed or potato-ground, which 

 has been frequently turned to sweeten it. 



Sweet William seed immediately sown will soon strike, and the plants bloom 

 next season. 



Seeds of many kinds of flowers will be ripe for gathering this month. 



Tigridia, Commellina, and similar roots, may be taken up about the end of 

 the month. Keep the soil with the Tigridias and dry it gradually. 



Verbenas. — Runners of this plant should now be taken off, planting them in 

 small pots half filled with potsherds, and the rest with good loamy soil, then 

 placing them in a shady situation. It should be attended to as early in the 

 month as convenient. When taken into a cold frame or greenhouse for winter 

 protection much of the success depends on being kept near the glass ; or sink a 

 box or two, half filled with potsherds, and the other good loamy soil, round the 

 plant, so that the runners, being pegged down to the soil, will soon take root at 

 the joints. When a sufficient number are rooted, separate the stems from the 

 parent plant, and those in the boxes will be well established, and, being removed 

 before frost, are easily preserved in winter, as done with those in pots. 



When Lilies, Crown Imperials, Narcissuses, &c, require dividing, take them 

 up now, and replant immediately ; also plant Hyacinths, Crocuses, &c, either 

 in beds, or in pots, for forcing immediately. 



When Petunias, Heliotropium, Salvias, Pelargoniums, Ragwort, Anagallis 

 Calceolarias, Hemimeris, Bouvardia, Maurandias, Antirrhinums, that have 

 been grown in open borders, and it is desirable to have bushy plants for the 

 same purpose the next year, it is now the proper time to take off slips (select 

 the short and well-ripened ones), and insert a number in a pot ; afterwards place 

 them in a hot-bed frame, or other situation having the command of heat. When 

 struck root, they may be placed in a greenhouse or cool frame to preserve them 

 from frost during winter. When divided and planted out the ensuing May in 

 open borders of rich soil, the plants will be stocky, and bloom profusely. 



