550 General Notices. 



are in the vegetable mould. In the month of November or December, 

 when the stalks are cut oif just on the basis of the pot, you will find the 

 whole length of the stalks which have been confined in the pots covered 

 with healthy roots. These rooted parts must be cut to pieces, allowing to 

 each piece one eye and a few roots. This performed, plant these pieces 

 in a border previously prepared with good mould for the purpose ; after 

 planting, cover the whole border about three inches high with the same 

 compost. This covering will induce them to grow vigorously ; and it, at 

 the same time, forms a protection against the injuries of frost. By this 

 method of culture, we may soon have a good stock of plants. Herbaceous 

 and tree pseonies are commonly propagated by division. The process is 

 quite practicable, but it disturbs the growth, — a point which ought to be 

 taken into consideration. The divided parts require about three years to 

 grow till they produce flowers ; after the lapse of this time, it is true, they 

 assume a vigorous growth ; but I am convinced that the above-mentioned 

 method of propagation is at once more safe and more advantageous. There 

 is another way of propagating the pseonies, namely, by grafting them on 

 the roots of the common herbaceous psBony. Some time ago, I practised 

 in a nursery on the continent, where the stock of pseonies was very exten- 

 sive ; and it was usual to graft the new kinds of tree pseonies on the roots 

 of the common herbaceous kinds. The utility of this method is very great, 

 particularly when the specimen plants are scarce or not strong, which is 

 nearly always the case with " new kinds." In selecting the roots from the 

 herbaceous kinds for grafting, I made choice of different sizes, which 

 varied in thickness from that of the little finger to one inch and a half in 

 diameter ; and I used them in proportion to the strength of the scion to be 

 inserted. For some time I performed the operation in the ordinary way. 

 I cut the roots lengthwise in pieces, allowing each a length of three or four 

 inches ; then inserted the scion in the split, which was afterwards tied 

 firmly together with bass, covered the whole with grafting wax, and planted 

 each root in a pot, &.C., &,c. ; but in the course of time experience induced 

 me to modify this practice, and the results were highly satisfactory. Instead 

 of cutting away the prolonged part of the roots from which the fine fibres 

 issue, I conserved them carefully, inserted the scion in the usual manner, 

 but used for tying, instead of bass, galvanized wire, which of course is 

 more durable than bass, and therefore prevents rottenness. Having grafted 

 about twenty or thirty roots, I covered their surface, but only their surface, 

 with grafting wax, planted each carefully in a pot, and leaving only one 

 eye of the scion overground. These pots Avere made for the purpose. 

 They were about six inches high, and from two to three inches in diameter. 

 There were various sizes used in this operation. After they were all 

 planted, I placed the plants in a dung frame, where the heat was just on 

 the decline. I kept the lights close, and the roots without water for about 

 three days, till a swelling of the buds was visible. Then I commenced 

 sprinkling, giving at the same time every day a little air for an hour or two, 

 which, of course, ought to be augmented when the young plants show signs 

 of their being well established; the lights may tlien be removed altogether, 



