Propagatioji of Stove Epiphytes. ■ 541 



of those improvements so unquestionably advantageous, that 

 there can be no excuse for not adopting it every where, but 

 that of never having heard of it. The rationale of the prac- 

 tice is, that moisture, being retained round the base of the 

 stem, rots it ; though constant moisture in or among the 

 fibres is found necessary for the growth of the plant. By 

 potting high, the base of the stem is always above the level 

 of the rim of the pot, and can never, therefore, be inundated 

 with water ; while the fibres at the extremity of the base, 

 being below the level of the rim, receive the moisture and 

 retain it. Planting bulbs above the soil, instead of planting 

 them under it, is another practice not yet generally known ; 

 but which ought, with many bulbs, to be generally adopted. 

 The reason is, the bulb (we do not speak of some descriptions 

 of tubers) is nothing more than a bud ; and, provided the 

 roots have a secure hold of the soil, and the climate be such 

 as not to injure the bulb, it will expand in size, and increase 

 by offsets, better, when not compressed by the soil, than when 

 under its pressure. The roots, also, being nearer the surface, 

 do their office under more favourable circumstances in regard 

 to heat and air, and will, consequently, mature the leaves of 

 the plants sooner. Plants in the open air cannot always be 

 treated exactly in this way ; but, by planting them in a raised 

 drill in winter or spring, or earthing them up during winter, 

 the soil may be removed from the bulb when the weather 

 permits, and the advantages will be found in its rapid in- 

 crease and speedy maturation. This may be easily proved 

 with onions, shallots, hyacinths, tulips, i^arcissi, and even 

 Gladioli and /'xise. 



As a Point in the Propagation of Stove Epiphytes, we must 

 not omit to do justice to the merits of the before-named Mr. 

 Perrin. It is known that the mode by which plants of this 

 description increase is by sending out travelling layers, like 

 the common ii'is, the tare, or the mint. Mr. Perrin, when 

 he wishes to turn every layer into a separate plant, does not 

 cut it off, and remove it into another pot ; but merely cuts each 

 layer through, close to where it proceeds from the parent plant, 

 leaving it in that position to benefit from what roots it may 

 have sent into the soil, until it sends up young shoots. By 

 the common practice of taking off the layer immediately after 

 it has been cut, it receives such a check that it remains for 

 months, and sometimes for years, alive, but not in a growing 

 state. The same mode of cutting is also practised by Mr. 

 Perrin, for the purpose of filling his pots regularly with 

 young shoots ; epiphytes, like all travelling plants, soon ex- 

 tending, often on one side only, till they reach over the pot, 



