184 



Gardening for Amateurs 



Plunge. Plants in pots are " plunged " 

 when placed, just as they are, in ashes, soil, 

 or other material ; bulbs when potted for 

 indoor flowering are " plunged " in ashes ; 

 and pots of cuttings, etc., are sometimes 

 " plunged " in coco-nut fibre. 



Potting On. This work consists of re- 

 potting plants into larger pots than those 

 previously occupied. 



Potting Off. Cuttings or seedlings grow- 

 ing several in a pot or box are said to be 

 " potted " off when each is given a small 

 separate pot. 



Prick Out. Seedlings are " pricked out " 

 by transplanting so that they may have 

 more room for development. 



Propagator. A "propagator" is a 

 name often given to a propagating case, 

 which is a box-like contrivance with a glass 

 cover and heated from underneath ; it is 

 used for the propagation of cuttings which 

 need a close atmosphere to ensure the 

 formation of roots. 



Repot. When a plant is repotted it is 

 tipped out of its pot, and after some of the 

 old soil has been removed, it is repotted in 

 another and usually a larger pot. 



Rose. An appliance for placing on the 

 spout of a watering can to ensure a spray of 

 water, instead of one heavy stream, as would 

 be the case otherwise. 



Sappy. "Sappy" growths are soft and 

 flabby, and are usually caused by excessive 

 manuring or by soil not sufficiently firm. 



Set. This term indicates the formation 

 of fruit after the flowers have faded. 



Side-shoots. Growths that develop 

 from buds situated in the axils of the 

 leaves on a main growth are termed " side- 

 shoots." 



Spraying. This is another word for 

 syringeing, the water being emitted in the 

 form of a spray ; or, more correctly, it 

 has reference to the use of a spraying 

 machine. 



Start. Plants are " started " into growth 

 by being placed in a warmer temperature 

 and given more water than hitherto. 



Stock. This w r ord has a double meaning 

 for gardeners. It may be used to indicate 

 a number of plants, often of one kind, and 

 it is also the name given to a plant upon 

 which another is budded or grafted. 



Stop. The growth of plants is " stopped " 

 temporarily by " pinching " (which see). 



Strike. A cutting is said to " strike " 

 when it forms roots. 



Taking Buds. A chrysanthemum bud 

 is " taken " when it is left ! It is really 

 " secured " by removing all the smaller buds 

 on the same growth. 



Top-dressing. This indicates an applica- 

 tion of soil usually rich, manure, or other 

 substance over the roots of plants, and is 

 generally given when the roots appear 

 through the surface of the soil. 



Wall-Trees. Fruit trees trained to walls 

 for protection are termed wall-trees. 



An Amateur's Primula. Few green- 

 house plants have risen so rapidly in favour 

 within the last few years as the Chinese 

 Primula obconica, and few plants have been 

 so improved. The large bright red flowers, 

 almost as large as a shilling, which may now 

 be obtained, are very different from the small 

 lilac flowers of twenty years ago, whilst a 

 considerable range of colouring is also notice- 

 able. Fortunately it is an easily managed 

 plant, and an ideal one for the amateur. 

 Easily raised from seeds sown in a compost 

 of 2 parts loam, 1 part leaf -mould, and 1 part 

 sand, in spring, the seedlings make rapid 

 progress if placed on a cool ash stage in a 

 light and airy greenhouse, and by autumn 



form handsome plants, in 5- or 6-inch pots, 

 and blossom throughout winter. By sowing 

 seeds at intervals it is possible to have 

 plants in flower throughout the year. They 

 were formerly propagated by division, but 

 except in the case of special varieties seed 

 forms the best means of increase. Seeds 

 may be saved from good forms, but as a 

 rule it will be found better to purchase the 

 amount required. The plant has one defect, 

 the leaves of some varieties are poisonous 

 to some people who have sensitive skin, but, 

 curiously, only one person now and then is 

 affected. The poison causes an irritating 

 eruption to appear on the skin, usually of 

 the hands and arms. 



