Cl'LTDATIOX AXD AXALTSfS OF PLAXTS. 



cause slow evaporation, ;ind tliL- pot being covered with a glass while striking root. The 

 layering process mav also be iisL-d. The mode of procedure is to select strong, low-grow- 

 ing shoots around the plant, cut oft" the lower ka\cs and diminish the length of the upper 

 ones, and then with a siiarp knife make a clean, ^lanting cut t>n the lower side of the stem, 

 penetrating about half through it, terminating it near the next joint above the edge of 

 Tlie earth is 'then loosened an inch or so deep, and the layer pegged down, 

 ng slightly tilted to keep the wound open, and covered with fresh soil well 

 n. In this way tiic old plant feeds her nurslings through the half-dissevered 

 le slips take mot. The Remontants, or Monthly Carnations, are much culti- 

 vated as house plants, their frequent Howering making them verv popular, although the 

 "monthly" blooms are confined to tropical and subtropical climes, and the summer 

 months in otiier latitudes. The best kinds are imported from Germany and Italy, wheie 

 their ciilti\ ation has been made a sijccial industr\- for twt) or three hundred vears. 



the blade, 

 the en<l be 

 pressed do^ 

 bark until t 



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effectually 

 cperiments 



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.f hybridiz- 

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the mai 



<l(.li_ht (it the hunibk cottagers of Great Britain un(kr the familiar 

 n UUL ol I iLUch Settle. It, however, fell under tile observation of 

 th It pi nice ot expeiimenters, Vcrschaffelt, of Paris, who gave the 

 iiist niipctus to the pioduction of varieties, which have since been 

 multiphtd indefinitely by many others. It has now become indis- 

 to lait^L and sniidl collections, being a universal favorite with rich aiui 

 The slight blotch of bionze that ornamented the original nettle-like 

 the simple Coleus has been made to assume, under the skillful manipu- 

 ot the scientific hybiidizers, ncarh all the shades of the three primitive 

 colors, red, blue and yellow; and \ arious combinations of these and their many 

 shadings. So conspicuous is the tendency to change in the markings by this process that 

 one variety has been styled the Chameleon. The number of varieties in actual culti\ation 

 is very considerable and continually growing larger. They will grow in almost an)- soil, 

 but do best in a compost of leaf-mold and good loam, recjuiring, howe\er, plenty of 

 moisture in whatever soil during their season of growth. They are very sensitive to cold, 

 being in fact as good as thermometers down to the freezing point, the leaves presenting 

 different appearances at different degrees under fifty. In the upper ranges they will 

 reco\ er with proper attention and increased warmth within seventy-five degrees, but if 

 touched by actual frost they are doomed to perish. For winter culture, cuttings should be 

 taken in August and set in any shady situation in any soil or in sand, when they will 

 strike root by simply watering them every evening in hot, dry weather. When suffi- 

 ciently rooted, they should be potted and taken indoors before the approach of early frost. 

 It is useless to attempt their cultivation where the temperature kills below fifty-five degrees. 



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