298 THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE. 



mate, and blooms freely in the open ground early in May. Its flowers are 

 rose colored. Ladies, if you would have a little hardy plant, worthy of all 

 the care and admiration you so well know how to bestow on a favorite, and 

 have a square foot of a cool peat border to grow it in, lose no time in order- 

 ing a plant of Rhododendron glaucum. — (Gard. Chron.) 



The Cineraria. — Where do we find a plant which, during the autumn, 

 winter, and early spring months, is so gay and beautiful as this ; or one 

 which is so useful for exhibition or decorative purposes, or for the embel- 

 lishment of the flower-vase or bouquet! By gas or candle-light, the colors 

 of some of the rose, crimson and purple varieties are extremely brilliant ; 

 while the white varieties, margined with the preceding colors, are match- 

 less. Add to this, that many of the kinds are agreeably fragrant, and you 

 have nearly all the qualities which constitute a useful flower. In treating 

 of the Cineraria as a plant for exhibition, or of its value for decorative pur- 

 poses (and, in the early part of the season, the plants make a fine display), 

 I cannot refrain from stating that their cultivation should be much improved, 

 and indeed must be before they will assume their wonted standing upon our 

 exhibition-tables. Only a few years ago. Cinerarias were but a set of poor, 

 etarry things, with narrow, flimsy petals, and flowers supported by tall, un- 

 sijgljtly stems ; but now, thanks to the march of improvement, the best va- 

 rieties are dwarf and compact, and, when properly grown, produce perfect 

 trusses of stout, and, in some few cases, of almost perfectly-formed flowers. 

 When high cultivation is aimed at, peculiar treatment (which I shall pres- 

 ently describe) is required to produce stout, healthy cuttings, as from such 

 the Cineraria .can only be properly grown. As the plant is now in bloom, 

 and seedlings will be required, a few of the most esteemed varieties should 

 be selected for that purpose, bearing in mind that those chosen must be oi 

 the best possible form, clear colors and marking, as much depends on this in 

 producing new and first-rate varieties. When this is done, some secluded 

 place in the garden should be selected, to keep them entirely apart from 

 any inferior varieties, with which the bees would cross them, and produce 

 muddy, unsightly flowers, instead of clear and well-defined colors. When 

 the seeds are ripe, sow immediately in some shady place ; and as soon as 

 large enough, prick off" thinly into pans or wide pots, and keep close for a 

 few days, until they are properiy established, when they may be removed to 

 the open air until large enough to place in single pots : should large plants 

 be required, they should be stopped when about two or three inches high. 

 As soon as the seeds are gathered, the old plants should be cut down, or 

 partly so, as in many instances the crowns of the plants rot if cut too close 

 to .the surface. Now that they are cut down, remove them to some shady 

 place (a north border being preferable), until they throw up young shoots, 

 when they should be potted into larger pots, in a light compost, or planted 

 out in the open ground, in a light soil, where they will furnish strong 

 ■cuttings, and from these only can good specimens be obtained. When 

 ithey have grown about an inch or two, remove the cuttings, and place 



