Notes and Gleanings. 3 ^ ^ 



India-Rubber Plant Propagating. — It is increased by cuttings. The 

 points of the shoots should be taken off with a sharp knife ; and, if it have two 

 good joints in addition to the growing-point, it will make an excellent cutting. 

 The leaf should be removed from the lowest joint, beneath which the shoot 

 should be cut across with a sharp knife. The cutting is to be inserted in 

 a small pot placed within a larger one. Use a compost of equal parts of sandy 

 peat and loam, and silver sand equal to both. After giving a gentle watering, 

 plunge the pots in a hotbed, and cover the cutting with a bell-glass, keeping it 

 close, but not very moist ; otherwise it may damp off. It will not be necessary 

 to cover with a bell-glass if the house be kept close and shaded. A slight shade 

 from bright,sun should be afforded. A mild bottom-heat of from seventy five to 

 eighty degrees is essential. When the cutting begins to grow, remove the glass, 

 and shade by degrees. Spring is the best time to put in cuttings. 



Cultivation of Figs. — The best specimens of this fruit are raised under 

 glass ; but good ones can be grown in the open air by proper attention. The 

 tree requires a rich and rather moist soil. It succeeds well on the back wall of 

 a grape-house, and does not seem to be injured by the shade of the vines. 

 Another good way is to put the trees in tubs or boxes, and start them in the 

 house ; and when the weather becomes fine, in May or June, set them out, keep- 

 ing them well watered through the season. They may be grown and ripened in 

 the house in tubs or pots. An occasional watering with manure-water will be 

 beneficial. Another mode that we have followed with success is to set the 

 trees out in spring, as soon as the frosts are over, in a good rich soil, where 

 they will not suffer for moisture, exposed to the sun ; and then let them stand 

 until there is danger of frost again in autumn, when they should be taken up 

 and put in a house or other cellar, secure from frosts. This operation is to 

 be repeated yearly, and it will give very pleasing results. The trees will ripen 

 one crop certainly, and, in very favorable seasons, two crops. The brown 

 Turkey fig is a good variety for this purpose. 



Black Warts on Plum-Trees. — Whenever these appear on the trees, 

 they should be immediately cut off, even though it does leave a considerable 

 wound. The succulent warts afford a breeding-place for the curculio, the active 

 destroyer of the plum. Some recommend the free use of salt ; but we do not 

 believe it to be a preventive against the warts. They are caused by a diseased 

 state of the sap. We think, in time, the black wart will entirely disappear. We 

 wish we could say the same of the curculio. While the plum is not one of the 

 very best of our summer fruits, still many persons are quite fond of them, and 

 wish they might be made to flourish as in years gone by. 



New Gladiolus. — The best of the last year are. Princess Alice, lilac, lightly 

 tinted with rose ; N'ornta, white, sometimes very lightly tinted with lilac ; Ura- 

 nie, white, striped with lovely carmine-rose ; Mozart, lively rose, largely tinted 

 with violet, and flamed with deep carmine ; and Semirainis, rosy carmine ground, 

 largely flamed with deep carmine. 



