General Notices. 229 



which Mr. Dobson rears the lovely masses of floral beauty, which are 

 annually so much admired at our great flower shows ; but soil, we need 

 hardly say, is not the only thing that is necessary to attend to, in order to 

 have fine pelargoniums. There are many other items that it is equally 

 essential the grower should be acquainted with ; but for the acquisition of 

 these, we must refer him to the book itself. — (Gard. Chron., 1852, p. 183.J 



Trop5:olum Lobbianum. — Amongst the many interesting plants capable 

 of adorning our greenhouses, this may fairly claim notice as one well 

 adapted for this purpose. It is a plant of very easy cultivation, and one 

 that can be used to great advantage in a variety of ways, and as recommen- 

 dations for general use these qualities are highly favorable. This tropeeo- 

 lum is very easily raised from cuttings, in the usual way, with soft wooded 

 things, to grow it in a pot for winter flowering. About the end of July or 

 beginning of August — this is a very good time (but sooner or later will do) 

 — take a 4 or 5-inch pot; prepare in the usual way any friable materials, 

 such as is suited to propagate soft-wooded plants will do very well ; prepare 

 the cuttings in the usual way, then place them near to the edge of the pot, 

 after which place the pots in a frame where they can be kept close for 

 some time ; they will strike roots in a fortnight or three weeks' time ; when 

 they are Avell established, and have begun to grow, prepare a large pot or 

 box ; this may be in a great measure guided by the situation or place where 

 you intend to grow them ; let there be good drainage ; compost, equal parts 

 leaf mould and turfy loam, with a fair portion of sand ; these well mixed 

 together, but not made fine, being somewhat rough, will answer better, and 

 a means of assisting to ensure good drainage ; if a pot, say from 12 to 15 

 inches wide, after placing in the drainage, and filling up in the usual Avay 

 to a certain height, take the pot having the cutting well rooted and grow- 

 ing; turn them out carefully upon your hand, then place them into the 

 middle of the prepared pot half filled with the prepared compost; this done, 

 fill up all round to the required height ; then after they have taken root into 

 the fresh compost, top the plants, and place round them a few neat, straight, 

 branchy stakes, and these may be made into shape or height to suit taste : 

 it will be necessary to tie them outwards to these at first, until they once 

 take hold, but afterwards they will not require much tying, as they hitch 

 themselves to whatever they can reach, only requiring regulation ; they are 

 likewise good for trellis-work, and by judicious means and attention in 

 renewing them before they become " shabby," you may always have them 

 in flower, less or more, all the year. By such treatment in pot culture I 

 have repeatedly had them to keep very gay all winter; of course their 

 flowers during the dull period of winter have not that gay and interesting 

 appearance which they possess during the genial and warm sunshine of 

 summer. — (Gard. Jour., 1852, p. 227.) 



The proper Period to apply Liquid Manure. — The great importance 

 of the liquid manure question, and the numerous inquiries made of us as 

 to the application of this fluid, lead us once more to resume the subject, 

 restricting ourselves on the present occasion to a single point, namely, the 

 period in the growth of a plant when it may be most advantageously applied, 

 or should be altogether withheld. 



