304 THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTTJKE. 



into pieces about three inches long. I then smoothed the surface of a border in front of a 

 peach wall ; upon this I laid the roots flat, at about six inches apart ; when the roots were 

 placed, I covered them with fine sifted earth, half an inch deep, gently beaten into the 

 cuttings ; I then laid four inches more of loamy soil, well enriched, giving the whole a good 

 watering, and when dry, smoothed the surface over with the back of the spade. By the 

 middle of May, every cutting had sent one, and some two strong shoots ; and on examina- 

 tion, I found the soil I had covered the cuttings with to be filled with a massif fine roots. 

 I have anxiously watered the bed, as, being in a sunning situation, I found it got more dry, 

 more especially so from the bed being raised irom the old surface of the border ; it would 

 have been better to have sunk it, so as finally to have it even with the surroundings. 



On the Cultivation of the Rynchospermum jasminoides. 



THIS beautiful climbing plant was introduced into England from Shanghai in the year 

 1844. It is rarely to be met with ; but no doubt when its beauty and adaptability for grow- 

 ing in green-houses become known, it will be more common. At a little distance this flower 

 resembles the jasmine, and possesses a delicious odor. The plant is evergreen, and, like the 

 ivy, sends out rootlets up the stems whenever they come in contact with the soil ; hence it is 

 easily propagated by taking a shoot near the soil, or by cuttings of half-ripened wood. The 

 branches of this plant are moderately stout, and require but little support. 



This plant requires but little cultivation beyond what is required for green-house plants 

 of this description. It usually commences flowering in April, and if placed in the green- 

 house, will continue to bloom for six weeks or two months. It thrives best in a soil of one- 

 half turfy loam, one-fourth peat or leaf-mould, and the same of white sand, all well incorpo- 

 rated together. The Florist and Horticultural Journal. 



New Fact noticed respecting Bulbous Roots, 



THE "Magazine of Horticulture" says: What is in common language termed a bulbous 

 root, is by Linnaeus termed the hybernacle or winter lodge of a young plant. The bulbs in 

 every respect resemble buds, except in being produced underground, and include the leaves 

 and flower in miniature, which are to be expanded in the ensuing spring. By cautiously 

 cutting (in the early spring) through the concentric coats of a tulip-root longitudinally from 

 the top to the base, and taking them off successively, the whole flower of the next summer's 

 tulip is beautifully seen by the naked eye, with its petals, pistil, and stamen. The flower 

 exists in other bulbs in the same manner ; but the individual flowers of others being less, 

 they are not so easily detected, or so conspicuous to the naked eye. In the buds of the 

 Daphne mezereon, and in those of the Hepatica, and at the base of the Osmunda lunaria, a 

 perfect plant of the future year may be found, complete in all its parts. 



Materials for a Cutting Pot. 



PROVIDE either broken potsherds, pebbles, or chips of stones from a mason's yard, and 

 place them in the bottom of the pot. Over these put rough, fibrous peat or turf: this will act 

 as drainage, which is most essential ; then prepare peat, loam, and silver sand in equal parts, 

 with the addition of a little powdered charcoal : let these be well incorporated together and 

 passed through a fine sieve ; put this compost on the top of the above-mentioned drainage 

 and press it well down. This must be in sufficient quantity to reach within 1 inch of the 

 top of the pot. Finish with pure silver sand, and let the whole be well watered, to settle all 

 down before the cuttings are put in. Then, having bell-glasses at hand, and the pots ready, 

 dibble the cuttings into the sand, which will induce the emission of roots, and these will 

 strike down into the compost, which, prepared as directed, will suit any plant. After the 

 cuttings are inserted, let them be watered with a fine-rosed pot to settle the sand round them. 

 Cover with the bell-glasses, and shade until they have become rooted. Cuttings must not be 

 put in too closely together, otherwise they will damp off. Wipe the condensed moisture from 



