Domestic Notices. 231 



to which they are secured by wire. Commencing with the central 

 branches, the leaves are taken from the parts which the tin is intended to 

 enclose. The branch is cut two thirds through, as in layering ; and be- 

 ing enclosed by the funnel, the latter is well packed with moss. Moisture 

 necessary for favoring the emission of roots is supplied by means of a 

 bottle, from M'hich the bottom is struck off, and the neck furnished with a 

 cork, perforated so as to admit a small pigeon's feather, a bit of wool to 

 form a syphon, by means of which the moss is kept in a proper state of 

 moisture. The plants on which the operation is made are placed so as to 

 be partially shaded by trees during the first month. Hard-wooded plants 

 are propagated in this way from the middle of May till tlie end of June ; 

 and the branches are sufficiently rooted to be taken off by the first week 

 in September. Soft-wooded plants may be operated upon in March, and 

 the plants taken off in June, or in the end of June and beginning of July, 

 in which case the plants may be taken off, if sufficiently rooted, in the end 

 of September. It is, however, necessary, in all cases, to ascertain whether 

 the branches are sufficiently rooted previously to their being separated. 

 This is easily done by opening up the edges of the tin. When the branches 

 are found to be sufficiently rooted, they are potted off, Avithout removing the 

 moss by which the roots are surrounded. Being moderately watered, 

 they are immediately placed under glass, on a slight hot-bed, and kept 

 shut up for a fortnight. They are then gradually exposed, and afterwards 

 placed in the shade of large trees, so that only half of the rays of the 

 sun shall reach them. In this manner, M. Fonlup obtained from one shoot 

 of Pittosporum sin6nse, fifty-two well-rooted plants, in the short space of 

 two months, by means of thirty tin cones. He also employs the latter 

 for invigorating weak branches, and for increasing the size of fruits. — 

 (Revue Horticole, in Gard. Chron. p. 183.) 



Art. II. Domestic JVotices. 



JVew method of destroying the Curculio. — The following remedy for the 

 curculio has been communicated to the President of the Cincinnati Hor- 

 ticultural Society : An old man who lived on the premises of a neighbor 

 of the writer, in Canton, Ohio, in a shop which had a yard with a single 

 plum tree in it, observing that that insect infested the trees very gener- 

 ally, and were in a fair way of destroying the whole crop, and knowing 

 of no preventive, was induced to try the experiment of saturating the 

 bark of the tree for a short distance with spirits of turpentine. He after- 

 wards tied a rag, dipped therein, around it. The experiment succeeded 

 to a charm, for not a plum was afterwards injured, Avhilst other trees in 

 the vicinity cast from one half to two thirds of their fruit from the sting 

 of that pernicious insect. — [Western Farm, and Gard., Vol. IV. p. 225.) 

 [As it is now just the season to institute experiments for the destruction 

 of this insect, we hope cultivators will be induced to try this plan. — Ed.] 



Saltpetre a Remedy for the Peach Worm. — Lyttleton Physic, M. D., in a 

 letter to our correspondent, J. S. Skinner, Esq., states that he has made 

 use of saltpetre with good effect in destroying the borer. He uses one 



