CULTURE OF MARTYNIA FRAGRANS. 85 



Cuttings raised in the early part of the year, and planted out in open 

 oeds, of these robust kinds, bloom very sparingly, I find, however, that 

 the two or three years' old plants do admirably : their stems and 

 branches having assumed a woody habit produce abundance of the 

 largest flowers. I would always recommend plants' of the above age, 

 for planting out especially, and the situation to be full sun. 



CULTURE OF HYDRANGEA HORTENSIS, 



BY AN AMATEUR. 



This plant is almost an universal favourite, and I think deserves a 

 place in every flower-garden for summer and autumn decoration, as 

 well as in the greenhouse and conservatory for ornament, when the 

 general stock of greenhouse plants are out of doors. I am aware it is 

 not so generally grown as it can be ; I therefore give a few particulars 

 how I have grown it with heads of bloom a foot in diameter. Early in 

 August I take off" cuttings, strike them in a hot-bed frame, when 

 rooted, pot them off" singly into small pots ; they get well-establislied 

 plants before winter. I do not pincli oif the lead in order to induce 

 laterals and have a bushy plant, but wlien any side shoots appear I rub 

 tliem off". About the first week in March I re-pot the plants, into 32 

 or 24-sized pots, in a rich loamy soil, if I \vant rose-coloured flowers, 

 and into a pure yellow loam and sandy peat, when I want blue flowers ; 

 I put no manure into this class. By this attention to potting, having 

 a liberal drainage, giving a free supply of soft water when growing, 

 and a warm greenhouse to forward them in ; taking away laterals, I 

 have one head to each of the extraordinary size named. By raising a 

 fresh supply every year, I obtain young and vigorous plants. The 

 process is short and amply repays for the attention. 



CULTURE OF MARTYNLA FRAGRANS, 



BY AN AMATEUR LONDON FLORIST. 



This fine flowering, noble annual plant was introdnced into this 

 countiy from Mexico, in 1839, as one of the handsomest annuals that 

 had been sent. Although it has been so long in the country it is rarely 

 cultivated. Very few seeds are perfected, it is said, and in consequence 

 are dear ; also plants are raised Avith difficulty. By the following 

 method I have succeeded quite satisfactorily. 



I sow the seeds at the end of January in sandy peat soil, sprinkling at 

 the top a quarter of an inch of white sand. Having soaked the seeds 

 for about half an hour, I carefully peel off" the outer skins, place them 

 firmly in the sand, and then cover them about a quarter of an incli 

 with the sandy peat soil, pressing it somewliat firmly upon them. I 

 cover them over with a small glass, and place the pot in my forcing 

 pit, or in a hot-bed frame when I have one at work at that time. Tiie 

 pot is put in a saucer having constantly a supply of water therein, and 

 invariably the plants are readily raised. I retain tlie pot in tiie same 



