Notes and Gleanings. 301 



EuCHARis Amazon'ica. — To have the beautiful pure white flowers of eu- 

 charis during the whole of the winter months, when flowers are scarcest, is a 

 great advantage, more especially as they last fresh and beautiful for a long time 

 after being cut. The following is the mode of treatment I adopt, and by which 

 1 have them plentifully at that season : The plants are looked over and repotted 

 at intervals during March, April, and May ; the soil used being one-half good 

 fibry loam, one-fourth fibry peat, and one-fourth well-decayed manure and leaf 

 mould, with a free admixture of silver sand. The pots are provided with good 

 drainage, as, during the time of growth, the plants require abundance of water ; 

 and, to allow the superfluous water to run off freely, a layer of half-decayed ma- 

 nure is placed over the bottom drainage. When repotted, they are placed in a 

 temperature ranging from 70° to 85° by sun-lieat, and are kept near the glass, 

 being shaded at first until they begin to grow, after which they have all the light 

 and sun possible. This is of the greatest importance. They should not be 

 placed in plant-stoves which are kept shaded in sunny weather. The syringe is 

 freely applied both morning and afternoon, and, in the middle of the growing 

 season, at closing time also, that they may have the benefit of a nice humid 

 atmosphere the night through. The plants at this time are never allowed to 

 become dry, being watered two or three times a day in hot weather, and twice a 

 week with manure-water made from sheep-dung with a little soot. 



With this treatment the plants grow vigorously, and have that fine, rich, deep- 

 green appearance which is the best sign of vigorous health. By September 

 and October, when the bulbs have finished their growth, they are removed at 

 intervals of three weeks, to secure a succession of bloom from November to 

 March, to a cooler house, in which they are placed near the glass in the dryest 

 part of the house ; and water is gradually withheld from them, barely enough 

 being given to keep the leaves from shrivelling. In a short time, they throw up 

 their flower-spikes, and bloom freely all through the winter months. — William 

 lVhitake)% in Florist. 



On Vine-Pruning. — I strongly recommend those who have hitherto pruned 

 their vines on the close system to try the extension one. Let them prune to a 

 good eye, instead of cutting every visible eye away, and I am sure they will soon 

 see the advantage of adopting this method. I think it a practical anomaly, that 

 a quick-growing and long-lived plant like the grape-vine should not be allowed to 

 extend itself except in the first few years after planting. Long before the vines 

 get into their teens, they are restricted to about the same quantity of leaves 

 every season ; and, consequently, there is no impetus given to the roots to extend 

 themselves much : but let the top extend yearly, and the roots will do so like- 

 wise, and enjoy their fresh food much better than taking the old dose over again. 

 I believe many vineries have been ruined because the roots have not had the 

 power to push onward. A vinery might be made much more productive as well a.s 

 ornamental, and it would be more in conformity with the habit of the plant, if 

 the vines were festooned, and trained wherever they could get proper light. As 

 this cannot be easily accomplished in lean-to houses, I train them after the fan 

 fashion, and do not dress them up like hop-poles. — M. Henderson., in Poiiiologist 



