Cli GARDEN JIANAGEMENT- 



tion by cuttings, therefore, turns upon a careful, wise husbanding and expea- 

 diture of the sap and organizable matter stored up within the cutting itself. 

 As a rule, the softer the texture of the cutting, the faster it will gravitate 

 towards death, and, of necessity, the more rapidly must the process of rooting 

 be pushed forward ; and the harder the texture, the longer the period of 

 probation given, and the slower tho process of rooting. All successful prac- 

 tice demonstrates tho correctness of this theory ; and it is as important to 

 bear it in mind in providing flowering plants as in the higher branches 

 of propagation. It is a good practice to put calceolaria cuttings into cold 

 pits at once, thus : — Place six inches of broken brickbats, stones, and char- 

 coal, for drainage ; another four inches of rough leaf-mould, or well-decaye'i 

 light manure ; on the top of this, three inches of soil, composed of equal part.s 

 loam, leaf-mould, or peat and sand. Spread over the surface one inch of cleau, 

 sharp silver or other sand, press it down firm with a spade or other contri- 

 vance, and water well to consolidate and settle the whole. Next day com- 

 mence inserting the cuttings two inches apart, taking cai'e to plant them 

 firmly ; water the surface, which should have an inclination of three inches 

 from back to front, in a pit seven feet wide, until it is even, and the process ia 

 complete. Keep the glass on ; shade in bright weather, and give scarcely any 

 air for a fortnight. By this time the cuttings will be partially callosed, and 

 may be gradually exposed to more air and full sun-light. In a month or six 

 weeks they will be weU rooted, after which the glass should be entirely 

 removed, unless during rain, fog, or frost. During winter they must be pro- 

 tected from the frost by a covering of mats or straw. They will require very 

 little water from November to the middle of February. About this period 

 they will begin to grow rapidly, and may either be potted or kept as cool as 

 possible in the pit, and finally transferred to the flower-garden in the middle 

 of May. This is the most successful mode of propagating and storing calceo- 

 larias. The maintenance of their roots in an equable, cool, and moist condi- 

 tion, is the grand secret of success. To have good beds of calceolarias it is also 

 indispensable to strike a sufficient stock in the autumn. They will strike 

 readily enough in the sharp heat in the spring ; but spring- struck cuttings- 

 seldom flower so well, can scarcely be got forward enough to flower early, 

 and, if subjected to a high temperature, are almost sure to take themselve.^, 

 ofi" suddenly without leave, leaving yawning vacancies behind, at a time when 

 it is often impossible to replace them. For ease, simplicity, and certainty of 

 success, autumn is the season for furnishing the entire stock of calceolarias. 

 Geraniums may also be kept in the same manner, but not without extraor- 

 dinary precautions against damp, I keep. several thousand in wooden boxes 

 30 inches long by 10 wide, and 5 deep. The sides are nailed to the bottom 

 at one end ; the other end is hooked on to the sides with two hooks formed of 

 bent wire. Two short nails passing up one inch through the bottom, and 

 piercing into holes formed in the movable end, keep it firm and strong in its place. 

 The bottom of the box, which is all formed of rough -^-inch stuff", is pierced with 

 six holes, half an inch in diameter. The boxes are prepared for use by placing: 



