216 MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



mind a sense of ihe beautiful and the j;ood The very inutility of flowers 



is their excellence and great beauty ; for they lead us to thoughts of gene- 

 rosity and moral beauty, detached from, and superior to all selfishness; so 

 that they are pretty lessons in nature's book of instruction, teaching man that 

 he liveth not by bread or from bread alone, but that he hath another than an 

 animal life. 



On obtaining large Flowers of the Dahlia. — I have been ^iven to 

 understand that nurserymen who exhibit Dahlias at the shows, and produce 

 flowers of such immense size, are accustomed to prune away the greater 

 part of a plant, as well as the flower buds at an early stage. 1 wish some 

 person who has practised these operations, would give a few instructions, at 

 what stage of growth this may be effected, and how performed, &c. 



Clericus. 



On Ipomea and Convolvulus. — The genera Ipomea and Convolvulus are 

 so similar, that many unite them into one, but the best botanists keep them 

 separate. In Convolvulus, the calyx sometimes has two small bracts. In 

 Ipomea it is always naked. In Convolvulus the stamens are shorter than the 

 limb of the corolla. Ovary is two, seldom three celled ; and the stigmata 

 are two, filiform, not capitate. Botanist. 



FLORICULTURAL CALENDAR FOR SEPTEMBER. 



Annual flower seeds, as Clarkia, Collinsia, Schizanthuses, Ten-Week 

 Stocks, &c. now sown in pots and kept in a cool frame or greenhouse during 

 winter, will be suitable for planting out in open borders next April. Such 

 plants bloom early and fine, and their (lowering season is generally closing 

 when spring-sown plants are coming into bloom. 



Carnation layers, if struck root, should immediately be potted off 



China Rose cuttings now strike very freely ; buds may still be put in suc- 

 cessfully. 



Mignonette may now be sown in pots to bloom in winter- 

 Pelargoniums, cuttings of, may now be put ofl'; plants of which will bloom 

 in May. 



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

 intended for blooming in next season. 



Plants of Herbaceous Calceolarias should now be divided, taking off offsets 

 and planting them in small pots. 



Verbena Melindris (chamwdrifolia.") Runners of this plant should now be 

 taken off, planting them in small pots and placing them in a shady situation. 

 It should be attended to as early in the month as convenient. 



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

 done later, the blossoms will be small. Use the richest soil. 



When Petunias, Heliotropiura, Salvias, Pelargoniums (Geraniums), &c. 

 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, 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 in the ensuing May in 

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



Tigridia pavouia roots may generally be taken up about the end of the 

 month. 



Greenhouse plants will generally require to be taken in by the end of the 

 month. If allowed to remain out much longer, the foliage will often turn 

 brown from the effect of cold air, &c. 



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

 by striking slips. They should be struck in heat. 



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 very freely 

 and be good plants for next season. 



