ON PROPAGATING EXOTICS. 223 



Soft-wooded kinds and herbaceous ones will not strike well in sand, 

 and must therefore be planted in light mould. Geraniums may 

 be struck in the open ground, covered with a hand-glass, all the 

 summer months ; but, where a large quantity are required, the 

 best time is September. A slight hotbed, with a surface of six 

 inches of light rich soil, and covered with a one-light frame, will 

 strike them very well at this season. Some kinds, as Aloysia 

 cytriodora, &c, will not strike freely from cuttings, unless the two 

 bottom joints are cut through in a transverse direction. It is a 

 very erroneous opinion, entertained by some people, to think that 

 a plant can only be preserved a few years by cuttings, and that it 

 is only by seed that a plant can be raised so as to be propagated 

 successively for ages. For myself, I should never be afraid of 

 losing any plant after having once got it to thrive, and succeeded 

 in propagating it by cuttings. 



3. Offsets. — Bulbous and tuberous-rooted kinds of exotics are 

 most commonly raised this way, or else by seed ; but seedlings 

 being so much longer than offsets before they arrive at a state for 

 flowering, occasions this mode of propagation to be seldom resorted 

 to. The bulbous genera, such as Ixia, Gladiolus, Morcea, Antho- 

 lyza, &c, after they have done flowering, should be suffered to dry 

 till the following October, when they must be taken out of the 

 pots, for repotting in fresh soil ; this is the time for increasing by 

 offsets, which, after they are divided and taken from the main or 

 principal bulb, may be potted in small separate pots, in a mixture 

 of equal parts of loam, decayed leaves, and sandy peat ; the pots 

 being previously well drained by broken potsherds. After they 

 are potted, they must be set in a cool frame, requiring only to be 

 protected from frost and heavy rains. The smaller bulbs may 

 remain here all the season, but the larger ones, and those likely to 

 produce flower-stems, may, after the pots are well filled with roots, 

 be taken and placed in a convenient place in the greenhouse, where, 

 if kept regularly watered, they will flower well. 



4. Layers. — Many kinds of exotics, as Punica, Nerium, Jas- 

 minum, Myrtus, &c, succeed best by this mode of propagation. 

 In April or May, choose for this purpose some pliable young 

 brunches of the desired kinds, properly situated for laying ; let 

 them be brought down gently, and inserted into the pot of the 

 |iarent plant, or., whew this is not conveniently practicable, into 



