Notes and Gleanings. 115 



Grafting Orange-Trees. — From the middle of March to the end of 

 April is a good time to graft orange-trees. The most eligible method is inarch- 

 ing ; but whip-grafting will also answer. In the latter case, the stocks should 

 be plunged in a hot-bed of about 70° in the middle of March, and in ten days 

 they will be ready for grafting. It is not necessary to pot the stocks, as doing 

 so only makes them take up more room. The atmospheric heat should be from 

 50° to 55° at night, and the atmosphere close and moist. Leave on the stalk a 

 few eyes above the graft to draw the sap into the scion. Employ whip or side 

 grafting with a tongue ; and, in addition to covering with clay, cover with moss 

 over the clay to keep it moist. The best soil for orange-trees is loam from 

 rotted turfs a year old, with one -fourth well -rotted manure; adding sand 

 according as the soil is light or heavy, so as to render it friable. Keep in 

 heat until the grafts begin to grow ; then cut the head oiT the stock down to the 

 graft, and loosen the matting, covering, however, again with moss ; and, after the 

 growth has fairly commenced, remove the plants to an airy greenhouse. 



Destroying Weeds on Gravel-Walks. — Dissolve one pound of pow- 

 dered arsenic in two gallons of cold rain-water ; put it in an iron pan over a fire, 

 and stir until the liquid boil ; then add nine gallons of cold water and two pounds 

 of crushed soda, stirring all the while until the whole boil ; and then keep boihng 

 slowly, and stirring briskly, for half an hour. Apply the hot liquor to the walks 

 in dry weather by a watering-pot with a rose that will allow of its equal distribu- 

 tion. A good soaking is necessary ; but the Hquid should not be poured on so 

 long as to run to the grass or box-edgings. The quantity named is sufficient for 

 thirty square yards. It should be applied before the weeds have grown much, — 

 in April or May. To keep it from the box-edging, a board should be laid against 

 this, and inclined, so as to throw any water that may fall upon the board on to 

 the .gravel ; and the same on the other side next the grass, the boards being 

 supported from behind. Where the walks are wide and extensive, a water- 

 barrel with a tap behind may be used, and a perforated tube to distribute the 

 water ; and in this way the work is expeditiously performed. Care should be 

 taken to protect the edging, as already directed. Those employing this liquid 

 should be careful to keep it beyond the reach of animals. 



Daphne indica Culture. — Provide good drainage ; for, if that is not 

 secured, the plant soon loses its roots, assumes a sickly appearance, and 

 eventually dies. In potting, use a compost of turfy sandy peat and turfy yellow 

 loam in equal parts, with one-sixth of sand intermixed. Care should be taken 

 not to over-pot ; for the plant seems to thrive best if rather under-potted : and it 

 should not be over-watered ; for, if the soil be kept too wet, it will perish. Allow- 

 ing the soil to become dry is equally injurious. Do not place the plant in a 

 moist growing heat after blooming, but in front of the greenhouse, where it can 

 have plenty of air, which all the Daphnes require. Placing the plants out of 

 doors in a shady position to ripen the wood is wrong ; for plants in the shade 

 can never have the wood ripened ; and, the pots being exposed, the evaporation 

 from their sides will dry up the roots, and destroy the delicate fibres of these. 



