118 



THE TREE PROPAGATOR AND PLANTER. 



moderate heat ; hot-water pipes with water gutters 

 attached to them are as good as anything. 



The propagation of Ferns consists in dividing the 

 roots, and multiplying them from seed. There appears 

 to be no means of obtaining new varieties by fertilising 

 the seed-producing organs, so that if new sorts arise 

 from seed it is by a freak of nature. I think such a 

 thing quite possible, especially with Ferns. Sow the 

 seed at any time in the house — the autumn, perhaps, is 

 the best for this. Propagating them from a division of 

 the root may be done whenever offsets can be obtained. 

 The soil for growing Ferns should be of good rough 

 peat chopped up with the spade, turf and all, two parts, 

 and rough maiden soil one part ; good drainage and 

 plenty of water, with a few waterings of weak liquid 

 manure in the case of old plants. 



The Gloxinia (Gcsneracece). 



Properly speaking, the Gloxinias are stove plants. 

 They may, however, be grown successfully in a good 

 warm greenhouse, and I have done this. It is a class of 



very desirable plants, pos- 

 sessing as it does remarkable 

 and decided colouring in the 

 flowers, its whole character 

 being superb be}^ond de- 

 scription. The beautiful 

 leaf, the dwarf and compact 

 habit, the abundance of its 

 rich and wonderfully varied 

 flowers, demand for this 

 gen vis a well-deserved place 

 in every collection of good 

 plants, whether small or 

 great. 



The propagation of the 

 Gloxinias consists in striking the leaves of them as 

 cuttings, with a base of the petiole or footstalk of 

 the leaf inserted a little way into the soil, half-way, 



Fig. 29. — Leaf of Gloxinia 



cutting 1 . 



The line shows the depth to 



insert it in the soil. 



