Notes and Gleanings. 57 



the ground in spring. In winter, the pots of plants, whether from seed, cut- 

 tings, divisions, or eyes, should be plunged to the rim in coal-ashes ; tlie plants 

 being kept near the glass, and afforded plenty of air in favorable weather, with 

 little or no watering at the roots : indeed, the soil should not be more than 

 moist. If fine flowers and large spikes of bloom are desired, the plants ought 

 to be well cared for in potting, never allowing them to become pot-bound ; and 

 the greatest possible encouragement should be given to them in May and June 

 by watering, and supplying them with liquid manure once a week, also during 

 any dry periods that may occur afterwards until the flowering is past. — G. Abbey, 

 in Cottage Gardener. 



Saving and sowing Fuchsia-Seed. — The berries should be left on the 

 plant until they are quite black, and readily part from it; then with the fingers 

 squeeze them in a basin of water until the seeds are separated from the pulp. 

 They will then sink to the bottom. Next drain off the water and pulp, and set 

 the basin on its side in a dry place, so as to dry the seeds. When dry, wrap 

 them up in paper, and keep them until spring. They may be sown at the begin- 

 ning of March ; or, if now ripe, we would sow forthwith. Sow in pots or pans, 

 well drained, and filled to within a quarter of an inch of the rim with a compost 

 of two-thirds sandy, fibrous loam, one-third leaf-mould, and about one-sixth of 

 silver sand. The compost should be sifted. Place the soil remaining in the 

 sieve over the crocks to the depth of an inch, and on it the sifted soil. Level 

 the surface by pressing it with the bottom of a small flower-pot. Scatter the 

 seeds rather thinly and evenly, and cover them lightly to a depth about equal 

 to the thickness of the seed. Give a gentle watering, and place the pots in a 

 house where there is a temperature of from 55° to 60° at night, and from 70° to 

 8o° by day, keeping the soil moist, and near the glass. When the plants appear, 

 afford plenty of light and air, and by degrees harden them off. The pot or pan 

 may be placed in a hot-bed, and the seedlings forwarded there until they are of 

 sufficient size to be put singly in small pots. This should be done as soon as 

 they can well be handled ; and after potting they must be returned to the hot-bed, 

 and kept there until they become again established ; then harden them off, and 

 remove to an airy position in the greenhouse. A shelf near the glass is the 

 most suitable place. 



Nepiirodium (Lastrea) fragrans. — We all know the pleasure of grasping 

 loosely the lower part, and passing the hand gently up a branch of the lemon- 

 scented verbena, and how long the delicious perfume remains on the hand 

 which has thus lightly squeezed the leaves. But it is not commonly known 

 that there is a highly odoriferous fern, which, when similarly handled, imparts 

 a very distinct scent of violets, — so exactly like violets, that it is difficult to 

 believe that some of those flowers are not somewhere close by. 



This fern is Nephrodhun {Lastrea) fragrans or A spidium fragrans of Gray. 

 It is a native of Canada, and perfectly hardy, and well merits cultivation. The 

 soil should be sandy loam. 



