310 Notes and Gleafiings. 



PoiNSETTiA PULCHERRiMA. — Among the various matters that engage a 

 gardener's attention jthrough the different seasons of the year, that of providing 

 a large and constant supply of plants for conservatory and in-door decoration 

 during the winter months is one that requires a good deal of forethought and 

 labor. There are a great number of plants now-a-days well adapted for this 

 purpose ; and, among them, Poinsettia pulcherrima has a strong claim on our 

 attention. Its bright scarlet bracts are very effective ; and they remain perfect 

 for a very considerable time, which is a matter of some consequence. 



The floral envelopes of this species are generally largest and finest on young 

 plants with only one stem ; and, as these are generally most useful for in-doors, a 

 number of young plants should be grown every season. These are ^asily raised 

 from eyes of the previous season's wood, like vines, put in early in April, and 

 plunged in a nice bottom heat. As soon as they are rooted, they should be 

 potted off singly into small pots, using a compost of peat and loam, mixed with 

 plenty of silver sand. When potted, they should be returned to the frame or 

 pit, and again plunged in a nice bottom heat, and kept rather close for a few days, 

 until they begin to grow, when air should, at every favorable opportunity, be 

 abundantly admitted. They should be freely sprinkled overhead with water when 

 they require it ; but care must be taken not to give them too much water at the 

 root, particularly whilst they are plunged. Towards the end of June, or by the 

 early part of July, they will be nice little plants, and will, if they have done well, 

 require a shift into a larger-sized pot about that time. After they are shifted 

 into larger pots, they will do very well in any of the vineries, if not too shaded, 

 until September ; but should be kept near the glass, that they may not be drawn. 

 In September, they should be put into the stove, and should be carefully watered 

 and freely syringed overhead. In due time, they will unfold their brilliant scarlet 

 bracts. They should have every attention paid them whilst in flower. When 

 they begin to go out of flower, water must be gradually withheld from them ; and 

 the plants should be rested in a dry part of the stove. 



In the spring, the branches of the previous year should be cut down to within 

 three or four eyes of the old wood. Shake off all the soil from the roots, and 

 repot them into as small pots as possible ; then plunge them in a nice bottom 

 heat. When they have grown a little, and made some fresh roots, shift them 

 into larger pots, and return them to a situation where they may enjoy a supply 

 of bottom heat. They will then grow rapidly, and in the course of a few weeks 

 will again require a large pot. After that, they will do in a vinery, if not too 

 much shaded ; or they may be put into the stove. These large plants will bear 

 several heads of flowers, and are very ornamental and showy ; but the bracts will 

 not be so large as those on young plants that only bear a solitary flower-head. 



M. Saul. 



Cham/ecyparis obtusa. — According to M. Briot, C. obtusa pygniaa, when 

 grafted on C. Boursieri, yields plants which are free-growing and erect in 

 habil ; while if it be grafted on a biota or a thuja, or if it be propagated by 

 cuttings, the plants, instead of becoming erect, spread horizontally on the 

 ground. 



