118 MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



On the Culture of the Calceolaria. — About the middle of July, when 

 the plants have done flowering, preparation should be made for propagating the 

 different kinds — the herbaceous, by dividing the roots ; the shrubby, by cuttings. 

 The plants should be encouraged in their growth, a short time previously to the 

 operation, by judicious watering, the remaining flowers picked off, and the stems 

 allowed to die down that no nourishment may escape. A little of the old soil 

 should be removed, and a top-dressing of fresh compost added, in which the 

 shoots will readily take root ; those shoots that do not touch the soil require to 

 be pegged down. 



The cuttings from the shrubby sorts should be struck singly, in smalljsixties, 

 in a frame with a gentle bottom-heat, kept shaded, and rather sparingly watered ; 

 when rooted, air may be more freely admitted, and the plants gradually hardened. 

 As soon as the roots appear through the soil, they will require shifting into forty- 

 eights, and to be placed in a house where they may receive plenty of top air — 

 side air and drafts being prejudicial to the free growth of the Calceolarias 

 when the sun bears considerable power the plants should remain on the shady 

 side of the greenhouse ; the temperature of the house should be from 45° to 

 50°. 



About the beginning of September, those plants which are growing vigorously 

 will require shifting into larger pots; and when large specimen plants are re- 

 quired, this operation should be repeated as often as the pots are filled with 

 roots; liberal drainage should at all times be given, and regular watering care- 

 fully attended to, never allowing the pots to get dry. The decaying leaves 

 should be removed, for if suffered to remain upon the plants, they cause mildew, 

 and much injury ensues. The plants require to be frequently examined, to watch 

 for the appearance of the green-fly ; and when discovered, a check should be 

 put to their increase by well fumigating the plants, and repeating the operation 

 if the first is not effective, as it is difficult to dislodge these pests from the young 

 and downy leaves. The house should be frequently steamed by damping the 

 flues, as the Calceolaria thrives best in a moist atmosphere. During the winter 

 months the plant must be removed to the south side of the house, to receive all 

 the light possible, aud prevent their being drawn up weakly. This treatment 

 is continued till the beginning of March, when a gentle watering over the heads 

 with a fine rose or syringe will prove very beneficial. As the power of the sun 

 begins to increase, and the flowers approach their blooming season, it will be 

 necessary either to shade the plants or remove them to the north side of the 

 house ; for if suffered to remain in the sun and allowed to become dry, the plants 

 will be forced prematurely into bloom before obtaining a desirable height and 

 size. When the flower-stems begin to rise, training should commence, and a 

 stick put to each shoot that it may rise in its proper place, and assist in forming 

 a regular head of bloom. A supply of liquid manure twice a-week will give 

 additional strength to the plants, and cause the flowers to expand freely. The 

 compost for the Calceolarias should be the following : one barrowful of loam, 

 one of bog-earth, and one of cow-dung. For the winter potting an additional half- 

 barrowf'ul of bog-earth may be used, for which, in spring, a half-barrowful of 

 loam should be substituted. — Giwdeners 1 Chronicle. 



Supbrb Carnations and Picotees. — As it is now the Carnation and Picotee 

 season for planting, I here forward |you a list, of what I consider first-rate, and 

 many of them new sorts, which have come under my observation on my visits^to 

 the different shows and collections of amateurs and florists in the neighbourhood 

 of London during the past season. J. Belt.. 



Scarlet Bizarres. — Twitchett's Don John (not yet out), Headley's William 

 Cobbett, ditto Achilles, Rainsforth's Game-boy, Roi da Capucins, Hugh's Haidee, 

 Martin's Splendid, Barrenger's Fire-king, Smith's Duke of Cambridge, ditto 

 Duke of Wellington, Ely's Regular, ditto Joily Dragoon, ditto Loid Durham, 

 ditto Earl of Mexborough, Wheeler's Victory, Grove's Sir Robert Peel. 



Crimson Bizarres. — Holmes's Count Palini, Hufton's Duke of Wellington. 

 Hogg's Champion, Paxley's Prince Albert, Roi Dagobeits, Barnard's Duke of 

 Roxburgh, Ely's Duke of Bedford, ditto Lord Milton, ditto Duke of Manchester, 



