88 ON THIS CULTURE Of MKSE M BR Y A N THEMTIS. 



quisite to have them grown in a situation possession such advantage. 

 On November first, I took up the plants, and re-potted ihem, keeping 

 their heads entire, and placed them in the greenhouse and cool frame 

 for winter protection. During the winter I give the plants a scanty 

 supply of water, never allowing them to be saturated at the roots, but 

 when quite dry to give them as much as will moisten all the soil in the 

 pot. 



I have a rock-work twenty eight yards long, with a ten feet depth of 

 frontage, having a full south aspect, well protected on the north by a 

 thick holly hedge, upon this rockery, I planted sixty good strong plants. 

 The taller kinds I placed in hollows, out of which the heads rose some 

 distance : the dwarf and trailing kinds to spread and hang over the sur- 

 face of the stones. I used a compost for them to grow in same as for 

 the border. In this situation they flowered most profusely, producing 

 a very pretty effect : they required a good supply of water, almost every 

 day, but they amply repaid for all attention. I judged that in con- 

 sequence of the plants on the rockery being dry at the roots, and 

 screened on the north, that I might safely allow them to stand out 

 through the winter which they would suivive, but on examining them 

 yesterday, (February 23rd,) I find nearly all the tops are killed. It is 

 probable the roots of some may be alive, but if they push shoots, they 

 will be so late in the season, and perhaps not more than two or three 

 shoots to a plant, that little show would be produced, (if any) by them. 

 For the future I propose taking up my plants from the rockery, and 

 giving winter protection in a dry, cool, frame. 



To have a good show, established plants of two or more years growth 

 is necessary. Small plants make but little show, unless planted closely 

 together ; they are easily raised from slips or cuttings, put off from ri- 

 pened shoots of the young wood. The cuttings must be inserted in a 

 dryish soil, and be kept so till the cuttings begin to wither, when if 

 water be moderately supplied, they will immediately strike root. A 

 gentle heat in a cutting house or frame, assists to strike more certainly 

 Thus in two years a good stock of plants may be obtained to turn out 

 which will produce effect. 



