CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



Layers. Some plants send out layers or runners 

 along the ground ; these have joints at certain 

 points, which have a tendency to take root. Noth- 

 ing is more easy than to propagate by causing the 

 layers of some plants to take root ; but there is a 

 little more care required with others, such as the 

 carnation, the young side-shoots of which, called 

 grass, are selected for layering. These are stripped 

 of their lower leaves, and the stem is cut half 

 through by an oblique slit near the base ; it is 

 then fixed to the ground with a hooked stick or 

 peg, and is covered slightly with mould, giving a 

 little moisture. Roots will in general strike out in 

 a few weeks ; and at the end of the season, the 

 plant is ready for being cut from its parent and 

 transplanted. 



Pipings. Propagation by piping is an expe- 

 ditious mode of raising young plants. ' Take off 

 the upper and young part of each shoot close 

 below a joint, with a sharp knife, cutting each off 

 at the third joint, or little knob ; and then cut the 

 top leaves down pretty short, and take off the 

 lower and discoloured ones. When you plant the 

 pipings, let the earth be light and sandy, and 

 recently loosened; dibble no hole, but gently 

 thrust each piping half-way down into the soft 

 earth, and fix it in the bed. Water them often, if 

 the weather is dry, but moderately, just to keep 

 them moist ; and shade them from the hot sun in 

 the day. If pipings are covered with a hand-glass, 

 they root sooner than those which are exposed. 

 Piping is done in June and July ; and the plants 

 will be well rooted and fit to plant out in Octo- 

 ber.' 



Cuttings are strong shoots cut from the parent 

 stem or branch, and set in the ground. The cut- 

 ting should be cut off slantingly and smoothly ; 

 and the soil requires to be dry, or not too moist. 

 Roses and honeysuckles are among the shrubby 

 plants usually propagated by cuttings ; and fa- 

 miliar examples of more succulent ones are seen 

 in geraniums, verbenas, petunias, fuchsias, cal- 

 ceolarias, &c. 



Grafting is a mode of propagation occasionally 

 adopted with roses and some other flowering- 

 plants, but it is more applicable to the FRUIT- 

 GARDEN, which see. 



Budding, a method of propagation specially 

 applicable to rose-bushes, consists in inserting the 

 fresh-cut bud beneath the bark of another plant. 

 The leaf on the selected bud is to be taken off, 

 for if it remained it would exhaust the sap, and 

 the bud would in all likelihood wither and die. 

 Along with the bud, a small slip of bark is to be 



Fig- 3- 



taken ; and if 'this bark separate freely, it is a test 

 of there being sap enough to form a union. The 

 slip of bark is to be inserted beneath the bark 



564 



of the other plant, in a slit made for the purpose, 

 and the whole tied with a strip of mat or thick 

 worsted, soft cotton twist, &c. to keep out the air. 

 The preceding cut represents the various parts in 

 budding : a is the bud cut out, with a shield of 

 bark attached to it ; b, the stem, with a slit in the 

 bark to receive the shield attached to the bud ; 

 c, the bud inserted, and the leaf cut away. 



SELECT FLOWERS FOR THE GARDEN. 



Flowering plants are now so numerous, both as 

 respects species and varieties, that a bare list of 

 them would more than fill the present sheet. All r 

 therefore, that can be reasonably expected from 

 us is a few hints as to those which are most 

 approved, and cultivated chiefly in the open air. 

 A person with little experience should stock his 

 garden only by degrees adding a small number 

 of different sorts every year, according to fancy, 

 and what he finds to be the capabilities of the soil 

 and exposure. In commencing to make a choice 

 for a moderately sized garden, or for still smaller 

 plots of ground and borders, we should also re- 

 commend the plan of cultivating a mixed variety 

 of different colours and different heights those 

 which are smallest being in front, and nearest 

 the eye, and the other rows rising in height and 

 massiveness as they recede. With as few as 

 four colours, four sizes, and six different periods 

 of coming into bloom, a mingled border may be 

 established with ninety-six sorts, which will pre- 

 sent a pleasing assemblage to the eye. 



ANNUALS. 



Some annuals are hardy, and others half- 

 hardy. The hardy kinds will grow and blossom 

 in open borders, without artificial heat or protec- 

 tion ; those which are half-hardy will also grow 

 in the open air, but are improved by being brought 

 forward under hand-glasses. Of the delicate class 

 of annuals which must be constantly kept under 

 glass, it is not our purpose to speak. The greater 

 number of annuals may be sown in the month of 

 April. The soil should be fine, and have a warm 

 exposure. If the weather be dry, irrigate with 

 pure soft water occasionally. 



Among the vast number of annuals that offer 

 themselves to the choice of the gardener, the 

 following may be mentioned as taking the lead in 

 the half-hardy kinds: African marigold, French 

 marigold, China aster, marvel of Peru, Indian pink, 

 convolvulus, amaranthus, zinnia, ten-week stocks, 

 &c. Hardy kinds: Adonis, candytuft, larkspur, 

 lupines, sunflower, lavatera, poppy, nasturtium, 

 sweet pea, Venus's looking-glass, Virginian stock, 

 mignonette, purple jacobaea, Clarkias, Collinsias, 

 Nemophilas, Helichrysums and other 'everlast- 

 ings,' several kinds of ornamental grasses, &c. 



If annuals are required on a more extended 

 scale, the best plan is to leave the selection to a 

 respectable nurseryman, or get his descriptive list 

 of their height, colour, &c. to choose from. 



Whether tender or hardy, all annuals should 

 be carefully trimmed, and kept from straggling. 

 Some will require thinning. Remove withered 

 and imperfect blooms, and clear off all plants that 

 are finished flowering, and shewing a ' seedy,' un- 

 sightly appearance. 



