PROPAGATION OF NEW HOLLAND SHRUBBY PLANTS. 225 



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a short time, they soon became unhealthy, for, the compost being defi- 

 cient in silicious matter, from the impossibility of mixing the sand with 

 tlie coarse pieces of turf, it soon became unliealthy, and hence the 

 plants were brought to a premature end, much to the disappointment 

 of tiie cultivator, whose labours were cut short just at the time when 

 liis anticipations were at tlie highest pitch. Now, tiiose wiio understand 

 the mixture of composts, pursue an opposite course, and, after selecting 

 their soil, and divesting it of all superfluous and inert matter, they 

 break it into small pieces, so that the whole will pass through the 

 meshes of a lialf-inch sieve ; and secure porosity by the intimate ad- 

 mixture of sand, potsherds, charcoal or soft porous sandstone broken 

 small. In this way the conipost is of tiie same quality throughout ; 

 and hence the roots receive neither check nor change of food, but when 

 large pieces are interspersed through tiie mass, tiie roots of the plants 

 either avoid entering them altogether, or by entering them, are subject 

 to constant changes. Tiiis is the rock upon which the advocates of 

 " the accumulative," " the one shift," and "the large shift" potting 

 system foundered ; they got plants to grow rapidly for a time, but that 

 time was limited, and at tiie end of it, death was ihejinale. 



Let us not be misunderstood. In repudiating the rough compost, 

 and the one sliift, we do not disapprove of a large shift, but we would 

 enter our protest at once and for ever against the use of rough compost. 

 Look to nature, the primaeval clod, do we find it like a honeycomb, 

 loose and open like a basket for Orchids ? No. But do we not on 

 the contrary, while it is sujficie7itly permeable for tlie free ingress 

 of air and water, find that it is firm and compact, and sufficiently 

 solid to prevent tlie changes of every breeze that blows. In this way 

 progress is comparatively slow, but certain ; and tlie plants, instead of 

 progressing with great rapidity for a time, produce strong, health}^, 

 thoroughly matured wood, and dwarf compact growth, yielding abund- 

 ance of bloom ; and whicli abide with you for years. But to return to 

 our young plants : — Having prepared your compost examine the roots 

 of the plants, and if they are strong and healthy, prepare a pot two 

 sizes larger, and after draining it properly proceed to pot your plants, 

 placing some of the roughest part of tlie compost over the drainage, 

 and proceeding to fill up firmly with the finer soil. Many of the New 

 Holland plants, as Chorozemas, Hoveas, &c., are subject to the attacks 

 of red spider, thrips, and mildew ; such plants should be laid upon tiie 

 side, and be well syringed, or the top be well dipped in a tub of water, 

 or pumped upon at the under side of tiie leaves, then be well dusted 

 with sulphur, this will usually destroy the pest. 



PROPAGATION OF NEW HOLLAND SHRUBBY 



PLANTS. 



PiMELKAS, Boronias, Eutaxias, Bossias, and similar plants are propa- 

 gated by cuttings of tiie half ripened, young wood, taken off in July or 

 August, making clioice of tiie sliort, stiff, and weak, or medium growth, 

 but avoiding twigs of a robust habit. These, after being trimmed, sJiouhl 



