Notes and Gleanings. 24 t 



Hop-Plant Propagating. — Tlie hop is propagated by division, or parting 

 the roots in autumn or spring ; the latter being the better time. The divisions, 

 which should have some eyes at the crown, and a portion of root, may be plant- 

 ed a foot apart. The hop may also be increased by cuttings of the shoots of the 

 previous year, taking them off at the crown, with a heel ; and this is best done 

 in May. Plant them in the same way as the divisions, in rich, deep, loamy soil. 



Bohemian Black Bigarreau. — This is " one of the largest and finest of 

 our black-heart class of cherries. It is a variety that was introduced by Mr. 

 Rivers of Sawbridgeworth, under the name oi Bigarreau Radowcsnilzcr, — a 

 name, the correct prounciation of which must in no small degree prove a stum- 

 bling-block to gardeners ; and we have therefore rendered it into English 

 by calling it Bohemian Black Bigarreau, in allusion to the country whence 

 it is said to have its origin. Whether we regard this variety as to its size, flavor, 

 or earliness, it is equally valuable. It ripens early in July, and is of the largest 

 size, of a roundish heart-shape, very even and regular in its outline ; skin shin- 

 ing, and jet black. The characteristically short stalk is very stout, and dark 

 green. Flesh quite black, firm, but not so firm and crackling as Bigarreaux 

 generally are, but juicy, richly flavored, and delicious. We would recommend 

 this to be grown in every collection." — Florist and Pomologist. 



Propagating Gloxinias from Leaves. — The gloxinea propagates freely 

 from the leaves. The easiest way is to cut off a leaf with a good piece of the 

 leaf-stalk, and plant the latter in pots just as you would cuttings. The leaf, if 

 thus kept in a shady, moist place, will soon form a tuber at the base of the stalk. 

 Another plan is to take the leaf, notch it at the back where all the smaller ner- 

 vures meet the midrib, fix the leaf by small pins flat on a damp surface, and 

 small tubers will form at all the notched parts. Another simple plan is to take 

 a leaf, split it up at the midrib, and then cut outwards to the outside in strips, 

 say one-quarter of an inch wide : plant these thickly in a pot, the part with the 

 midrib being lowest ; and almost every one of these slips of leaves will form a 

 tuber at the base. It is thus easy to multiply any kind of gloxinia, or of fine- 

 leaved begonia, which may be propagated in the same way. By these modes, 

 you do not obtain so large a tuber as when you use a leaf for a single tuber 

 instead of a score or more. A moist, warm, shady place is necessary for suc- 

 cess when the leaves are thus cut up into shreds. 



Cynosurus Cristatus {Crested Dog's-tail Grass). — This grass, which is 

 very valuable for lawns, is thus described : " The roots are tufted, with long, un- 

 branched fibres. Stems several, varying in height from twelve to eighteen inches, 

 unbranched, very stifi", hard, round, smooth, with three or four joints, most leafy 

 in the lower part, remaining brown, withered, and wiry, with their dry, empty 

 spikes through the latter part of the summer ; leaves bright green, short, nar- 

 row, flat, smooth on both sides, edge scarcely rough, with long, smooth, streaked 

 sheaths ; abrupt or ragged-ended and rather short stipules ; the head, or 

 spike of flowers, about two inches long, erect, stiff, straight and narrow, green ; 



VOL. I. 31 



