52 CULTIVATION. 



and no vegetable ornament repays the care of its 

 protector with more various beauty than this. 



To increase the magnitude and improve the 

 form, to add to the number and brilHancy of the 

 tints, the florist has recourse to various expedients 

 to produce the desired results. He propagates 

 by seeds and offsets ; and, when these have ar- 

 rived at a proper age or size, treats them in the 

 way now to be briefly detailed. 



In propagating by seed, the rule is to procure 

 the best-ripened seed from what are called, 

 amongst florists, " breeders ;'' that is, strong- 

 growing, robust plants, with well-formed cups, 

 having clear bottoms, either white or yellow. 

 The sorts from which valuable seedlings have 

 been obtained are, according to the ingenious 

 Mr. Hogg, Louis, Charbonniere, Davey's Tra- 

 falgar, and some others in high repute in the 

 profession. 



The seed should be sowed in the latter end of 

 January, or the beginning of February, in twenty- 

 four-sized pots. The pots should be well drained 

 by lime-core or rubbish, to keep away earth- 



