Round the Year in the Garden 



then said to possess a " heel." It is found that cuttings 

 with a " heel " of older wood often form roots more 

 freely than those cut beneath a bud in the usual way. 

 The cuttings are inserted in pots or boxes of sandy 

 soil placed in a frame, which must be kept closed for 

 a few weeks to induce the formation of roots. If the 

 pots are plunged to the rims in a bed of ashes so much 

 the better. No watering is necessary until roots have 

 developed, providing the cuttings are syringed daily 

 in bright weather. The frame must be shaded during 

 sunshine, and to disperse moisture a little air is admitted 

 for half an hour or so each morning. A few shrubs 

 that are readily increased in this way are Mock Orange 

 (Philadelphus), Bush Honeysuckle (Weigela), Rose, 

 Spiraea, Golden Bell (Forsythia), and, of Evergreens, 

 Aucuba, Privet, Ivy and others. 



In the Greenhouse 



Potting Freesias. The Freesia is one of the most 

 precious flowers for the greenhouse in winter. Bulbs 

 potted now will be in bloom soon after Christmas, and by 

 potting others at intervals of a week or two a prolonged 

 display may be maintained. The Freesia is quite easy to 

 grow in a greenhouse in which the temperature does not 

 fall below 45 or 50. The bulbs are placed about 1 inch 

 apart in 5 -inch pots ; there should be J inch or so of soil 

 above them. The best compost consists of loam with 

 which some leaf soil and sand are mixed ; if a little dried 

 cow manure is available this, after being rubbed through 

 a sieve, is excellent for enriching the compost. The pots 

 of bulbs are placed in a cold frame, and are watered and 

 shaded. They must be kept cool and the soil moist, 

 though not at all saturated. In six weeks or so growth 

 will be visible and the plants must be gradually inured to 

 full light. Soon afterwards they are removed to the 

 greenhouse, there to remain until they come into bloom. 



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