248 Notes a7td Gleanings. 



Kalosanthus-Culture. — The kalosanthus, or crassula as it was former- 

 ly called, belongs to the houseleek family, and is therefore a succulent, and 

 requires a somewhat different treatment to ordinary soft-wooded plants, though 

 it is by no means difficult to grow well. In the first place, the propagation is 

 effected by taking off the tops of the shoots that have not flowered as soon 

 as the beauty of the flowers is past : this is the best time of the whole 

 year, for the wood is by then tolerably ripe and firm, and not likely to decay, 

 which is the case if the tops are taken off early in the spring, when the plant is 

 in full growth, and the shoots soft and sappy. Any light sandy soil will do for 

 filling the pots, in which the cuttings are to be inserted, and a layer of dry silver 

 sand on the surface. This runs down into the hole made for the reception of 

 the cutting, and forms a base for the cuttings to rest upon. The cuttings root 

 with greater freedom this way than they would do if they were surrounded by 

 soil only. After the cuttings are inserted, place the pots in a position where 

 they are exposed to the full light and air ; for no close coddling must be attempt- 

 ed, or the cuttings will very soon go off", especially if accompanied by plenty of 

 moisture. Supposing the cuttings to be placed on a shelf in the greenhouse, 

 fully exposed to the sun, a mat might be thrown over the glass to break the full 

 force of its rays; and prevent them from being burnt up before they have formed 

 roots. The branches can also be cut up into lengths, and rooted, if a number of 

 plants are wanted, and there are only a few growing points to be had ; but the 

 latter are the best, if they are obtainable. After they are rooted, they must be 

 potted off into small pots, in which they must remain through the winter. In 

 the spring, shift into pots two sizes larger, and give them a little encouragement 

 for a few weeks by placing them in a growing temperature, about ten degrees 

 higher than that of the cold greenhouse : directly the plants begin to make fresh 

 roots into the new soil, nip the points off ; and then, when these pots are full of 

 roots, and the plants require a second shift, they can be either potted on singly 

 or into larger pots, or about three plants potted in one large one. The latter 

 method is preferable ; for a large plant can be had quicker, and with less trouble, 

 than by growing them on singly. The plants should now have all the light and 

 air possible ; for upon the maturity of the wood depends, in a great measure, the 

 quantity of bloom the following summer. The drainage of the pots should be 

 perfect, and water applied rather liberally when the plants are growing freely, 

 but sparingly during the time they are at rest through the winter, — just sufficient 

 to keep the foliage from shrivelling. From the first, the side-shoots must be 

 neatly tied out, to keep them in their places, and prevent their snapping off, 

 which they are very liable to wlien shifting the plant about. Immediately the 

 beauty of the flowers is gone, cut the plants down in a somewhat similar man- 

 ner to the way pelargoniums are cut back after flowering. Give the plants a 

 little extra warmth to induce them to break quickly ; and, when the young shoots 

 are about an inch in length, take the plants out of the pots, remove a portion of 

 the old soil, and repot in a clean pot, the same size as that from which it was 

 taken. No exact rule can be laid clown as to how low each shoot is to be cut down ; 

 but they should be cut back to where the wood is firm, and a certain uniformity 

 preserved, so, when the young growths progress and come into flower, the plant 



