112 % GREEN-HOUSE REPOTTING. [MARCH. 



If some of the colours of these could be compounded 

 with the large flowering kinds, those hybridised would 

 be magnificent. 



The best method to adopt in impregnating these, is 

 to choose the female, one that has large flowers, of 

 easy cultivation, and as nearly allied in character and 

 other habits as possible. When a flower of the intend- 

 ed female is newly expanded, take a pair of very fine 

 pointed scissors, and cut off* the anthers before the 

 pollen expands; then as soon as the summit of the stile 

 divides, apply the pollen taken from the anthers of the 

 intended male plant on a very fine camel hair pencil, 

 or cut out the stigma entirely, and place the anther on 

 the summit of the stile, which, if correctly done, will 

 have the desired effect. As soon as the seed is ripe, 

 sow it in light sandy soil ; and when it has come up, 

 take care not to over-water the soil, which would 

 cause them to damp off. When they are about one 

 inch high, put them into small pots, and treat as the 

 other varieties. Have them all distinctly marked until 

 they flower, which will be in the second year from the 

 time of sowing. 



Phormium t&nax, New Zealand flax lily, the only spe- 

 cies ; foliage resembling an /m, and very thready. In 

 New Zealand and Norfolk Island, the natives manufac- 

 ture from this plant a kind of stuff like coarse linen, 

 cordage, &c. ; the plant is very hardy, and we would 

 be no way surprised to see it stand the severity of our 

 winters. It bears exposure to the open air in Europe 

 in the 56th degree of north latitude. The flowers are 

 said to be yellow and lily-like ; of the easiest culture. 



