I02 Aloysia Citriodora. 



prominent a fair trial. There will be occasional disappointment ; but the 

 cost of the experiment will be trifling, and we shall be doing something 

 towards encouraging the improvement of vegetables, which, it must be 

 confessed, hardly keeps pace with the progress made in floriculture and 



PO^"°^«gy- • Fearing Burr, Jun. 



ALOYSIA CITRIODORA. 



This popular plant, usually known as lemon-scented verbena, receives 



far less attention than its merits demand. It is of the easiest growth, 



and propagation is easily effected when the wood of the current year is 



from three to six inches in length. Short stubby shoots, with their bases a 



little hardened, are the best. July is a good time to put in the cuttings, 



which may be side-shoots about three or four inches long slipped off" the 



plant. The lower end having been made smooth below a joint with a 



sharp knife, and the leaves removed for half the length of the cutting, the 



latter should be inserted pretty closely round the sides of a six-inch pot, 



drained to two-thirds its depth with broken pots or crocks, and filled to 



within an inch of the rim with a compost of sandy peat, loam, and sand, in 



equal parts ; the remaining space being filled up with silver sand. Insert 



the cuttings pretty closely around the sides, and up to the lowest leaves, or 



half their length ; then give a good watering, and cover with a bell-glass. 



Perhaps the best mode of doing this is to place the cutting-pot in one of 



larger size, and fill the interval between the pots with crocks, placing sand 



on the top : the rims should be level. Only water when necessary, and 



then give no more than is sufficient to keep the soil moist, as it must always 



be. Place the pot in the sunniest window, and shade for an hour or two 



during the hottest part of the day. In six weeks the cuttings will have 



struck, and the bell-glass may then be entirely removed ; but for three weeks 



previously it should be tilted a little by day, and put close down at night, 



wiping the glass in the morning if moisture is found to be deposited on it. 



The cuttings will strike, but more tardily and with less certainty, without 



the glass : they strike best in a gentle hotbed. 



" Cottage Gardener.^* 



