252 ON TAKING IN GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 



the union of the sucker with the parent root is uncovered. They 

 are then separated, hut the wound of the old plant is suffered to re- 

 main exposed for a day or two till its surface dries; dry earth is then 

 placed about it, and care is taken that no moisture is applied for the 

 space of a fortnight afterwards. The young sucker is enwrapped in 

 fresh leaves, in which state it is kept till the lower end becomes 

 shrivelled, and so much contracted, that the two opposite sides touch 

 each other. It is then planted in rich earth, which is rather dry 

 than otherwise, and kept well shaded till it has rooted ; care being 

 taken to guard it from frost. 



When the operation of splitting the stem is performed, an old 

 plant is selected, and its stem is regularly slit into four or six equal 

 portions, from the top to the very bottom, among the roots ; the 

 divisions of the stem are kept apart until the wounds begin to dry, 

 when the middle of the stem is filled with a sort of plaster, made with 

 mortar (mortier) and rich earth, among which is mixed fat and a 

 small quantity of sulphur. The plant so prepared is suffered to re- 

 main till the autumn, when each division is fit to be separated, 

 with the portion of the root belonging to it. 



Grafting is practised on the roots of the more common Moutans ; 

 when this is attempted, the root of the stock is laid bare during some 

 weeks, to the depth of three or four inches; just before the autumn 

 shoot is made, the earth is again heaped about the root, and soon 

 afterwards, when the sap appears in full motion, the operation is 

 performed. This is done in the way we call crown grafting. A 

 kind of clay made with rich mould, formed into a sort of mortar with 

 the expressed juice of Herbaceous Paeony roots, is then applied 

 about the scion and stock. The plant is afterwards shaded from the 

 sun, and protected from frost during winter ; and, when the spring 

 arrives, it is left to take its chance. If the scion ever pushes, all 

 danger of losing it is past. 



ARTICLE III.— ON TAKING IN GREENHOUSE PLANTS, 



THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE OPEN AIR DURING SUMMER, 



AND TREATMENT IN WINTER IN THE GREENHOUSE. 



BY THE FOREMAN OF A LONDON NURSERY. 



The attempt would be impertinent, to fix the precise day in which 

 greenhouse plants should be housed, the variations in the temperature 

 of the seasons, in different years, render it impossible. However as 

 the young tender shoots of the summer's growth, are extremely 

 liable to be injured by the frost; as soon as any symptoms of this 



