170 THE ELOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



in a bed of the same construction as above. When they are rooted, 

 they may be hardened off and allowed to remain in the bed until 

 spring. Plenty of air, in favourable weather, should be admitted. 

 In this way they will occupy less room than placed in pots, and 

 they will stand the winter better. Cuttings of roses, like those of 

 many other hard-wooded plants, are more certain of rooting when 

 they are made short, especially if a healthy leaf is attached to them, 

 and kept there until they are rooted. This, however, can never be 

 accomplished if the soil in which they are placed is subjected to the 

 alternate action of wet and drought ; but by placing wet leaf-mould 

 between the dung and sand, an uninterrupted supply of moisture is 

 obtained, and no water is required, from the time the cuttings are 

 put in until they are rooted in the pots. So suitable is this treat- 

 ment, that when the hud at the axil of the leaf has been damaged, or 

 otherwise abortive, those at the root are excited, and suckers are 

 produced. All kinds of roses will root freely under this treat- 

 ment. 



BALSAMS AND COCKSCOMBS FROM CUTTINGS. 



(HERE is certainly no great difficulty in raising and 

 growing up to maturity both these beautiful subjects, if 

 we procure good seeds of the best kinds; because 

 plenty of heat, good composts, and repeated shifts, with 

 the precaution of alwajs growing them close to the 

 glass, will bring them to perfection. But how often do we find that 

 they are not naturally dwarf; that they will run away faster than 

 we wish; and that the most beautiful flowers are occasionally upon 

 plants which are not of the best habit. 



On such occasions it is well to practise the plan of lopping off 

 their heads, and striking them, because we are enabled to make our 

 choice when their flowers are partly developed. I have this season 

 been purchasing the best seed 1 could procure, with the intention of 

 shining, if possible, in Balsams ; but having, from various persons, 

 obtained nearly forty different packets, all alleged to be " the best in 

 England," and greatly varied in description, I devoted a large seed- 

 pan to each kind, and pricked out three of each, which gave me a 

 goodly number ; and leaving the others in the pans, with the view of 

 planting them out in the borders if I should use them at all. One 

 party had advertised six varieties for 2s. Gd., in sealed packets, and 

 a separate packet of straw-coloured Balsams, also sealed up. Perhaps 

 I took more pains with these than others, for I picked them all out. 

 When I saw, by repotting three of every sort, and growing them up 

 to early bloom, that several of the varieties were worth growing, I 

 naturally turned to the store-pans to grow them all. But they had 

 grown a foot high, and were as thick, and I may almost say as thin, 

 as mustard and cress. As plants they are totally useless. Un- 

 willing to lose them, I took off all the tops, cut them up to a joint, 



