104 PRACTICAL FLOEICUI/TTTBE. 



inches of clean sand. The engraving shows the cuttings 

 as they are inserted in rows in the sand. The space 

 shown is about 9 square feet, in which are set about 1,000 

 Verbena cuttings. These are taken in the green state 

 from the old plants, cut into lengths of about 2 inches, 

 and inserted about half their length in the sand. They 

 are shaded when the sun is hot, and freely watered every 

 day until they take root, which will be in about 8 days 

 from the time they are planted in the sand. The proper 

 temperature for the sand is 60, and that of the atmos- 

 phere of the green-house should be 10 lower. The sand 

 on the bench in which the cuttings are placed is raised to 

 a higher temperature than the air of the green-house, 

 either by a smoke-flue passing under the bench or by 

 pipes containing hot water. As soon as the cuttings are 

 rooted they are planted in pots 2 1 | a inches in diameter by 

 2'| a in depth, and again freely watered by a fine rose 

 watering-pot. 



Figure 32 shows an inside section of a green-house, with 

 the plants in this the second stage of growth. These 

 operations are continued during the season, from Novem- 

 ber to May. In May the plants are ready to be set out in 

 the open ground. Some conception of the vast numbers 

 grown of this plant the Verbena may be formed when 

 we say that 300,000 were sent out from this establishment 

 during the months of March, April, and May of 1873 ; and 

 when it is known that there are many hundreds, great and 

 small, of florists' establishments in the suburbs of Xew 

 York, all growing more or less of this popular summer 

 flowering plant, it may be easily conceived that many 

 millions are planted annually. We can well note the in- 

 crease of taste in the culture of flowers from this single 

 plant alone. Twenty years ago, when we grew 5,000 

 Verbenas one year, we thought we would overstock the 

 market ; but we did not, and the vast increase that has 

 been steadily made tends to no such result. And it must 



