ON GRAFTING. 2*7 



and having been informed that it was a new species, which had not 

 bloomed in England, I immediately purchased it. In a few days it 

 was planted at the base of a column in my conservatory, which, 

 being light and lofty, I trusted would ensure its success. In this 

 hope, however, I was disappointed, for the plant grew weakly and 

 showed no symptom of a blossom. When taken up, four or five 

 tubers were found, which, about the beginning of March, were 

 planted separately in pots, and plunged in a back pit, and in May 

 were turned out into the open ground. The soil in which they were 

 planted was a rich compost, in which they grew luxuriantly ; and 

 in September and October they formed a verdant cone many feet 

 high and flowered abundantly. I presented one of the roots to a 

 friend who planted it against a wall, where it attained a great height 

 and bloomed freely. This year also, my own plants and those of 

 my friend's, planted both against a wall and in an open bed, have 

 flowered beautifully, though perhaps the colour of the blossoms was 

 not so vivid] as when the autumn has been more clear and sunny. 

 These hints, I fear, will afford W. R. but little assistance ; but the 

 result of my experience is, that the plants only require to be started 

 as early as possible in the spring, turned out in a rich loamy soil, 

 and, if in an open border, to be surrounded by strong, tall, feathery 

 stakes, which, in two or three months, they will completely envelope, 

 and well watered in dry weather. The situation should of course be 

 a sheltered and sunny one. I have seen the plant growing in a town 

 garden, but I doubt its ever flowering in a close smoky atmosphere. 

 I found it resisted a frost which cut off the Dahlias. The increase of 

 the tubers is prodigious, as from one strong tuber I had 102 good 

 sized ones. 



ARTICLE III. 



ON GRAFTING. 



BY THE AUTHOK OF THE OAllDKNElt's MANUAL. 



Every day's experience shows us the truth of the old adage, that 

 " practice makes perfect." A nurseryman, for instance, grafts and 

 buds (for we now include " budding " under the general term of our 

 title) hundreds of trees and shrubs yearly. He goes from stock to 



d 2 



