274 AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE. 



seedling raising. The numbers of ladies engaged there in 

 raising plants, flowers, bulbs, and fruits, are immense ; and 

 London and other seedsmen pay good prices to known 

 people for good things. New and improved bulbs, cosmos, 

 and many other novelties are got from them. The chrysan- 

 themum has been treated ever since it was introduced into 

 this country as a hardy herbacious perennial, but it may- 

 be raised from seed yearly and be treated as an annual 

 with the greatest facility and success ; and, doubtless,, 

 lovers of this autumnal favourite may be induced to give 

 attention to the raising of seedlings, inasmuch as this 

 practice, apart from the prospect of obtaining something 

 new and distinct, is accompanied by immense interest and 

 pleasure from the time the seed is sown to the production 

 of the flowers. In raising seedlings, it is good practice, as 

 soon as the young plants have grown sufficiently, to take 

 off cuttings and root them. It affords better and quicker 

 opportunity for testing the merits of any seedlings of 

 promise. 



Seed Sowing and Propagating. The rules and 

 practices laid down in the chapters on vegetable gardening, 

 tobacco culture, and other branches, are suitable for flower 

 growing. 



Bush and Glass Houses. The former is helpful in 

 every branch of gardening in Australia for seed raising, 

 propagating, and shelter for plants that suffer in the open 

 ground. 



Summer-flowering Plants. Annuals, of the many 

 varieties available, may be sown in spring to be ready for 

 planting out as required for flowering. Plant out cuttings 

 of pensternons, phloxes, fuchsias, &c., that may have been 

 struck earlier in the season. Cuttings of chrysanthemums 

 may be put in to make strong plants for flowering next 

 season. Amongst other shrubs and plants available are : 

 Acacias, yellow, from 2ft. to 30ft. high ; ageratum, blue, 

 1ft. ; agonis (billotia) marginata, white, 5ft. ; aloes, orange, 

 red, &c., 2ft. to 6ft. ; alyssum, various, rock plants f 

 amaranthus (late, annuals) ; antirrhinums, all colours, 18 

 inches; armeria formosa (sea-pink or thrift), 18 inches > 

 banksias ; bouvardias, several colours ; brugmansias ; 



