314 West London Gardeners^ Association. 



of peat earth chopped up ; put a crocksherd in the bottom of the pot, then 

 fill it with the turfy peat earth to within l|in. of the rim of the pot; after 

 which rub some of the peat earth very fine, and fill up the remaining part of 

 the pot with it, then press it evenly down, so much so as to admit of sowing 

 the seed as well as covering it, which should be done with a fine sieve, and 

 just sufficient to cover the seed, when a very fine rose watering-pot should be 

 used in damping and settling the earth, previously to the pots being arranged in 

 a cold frame ; where they should be plunged in cold ashes at 2 ft. from the 

 glass, and the lights to be kept on until they vegetate. If sown very early in 

 the spring many of them may be potted off the following autumn into small 

 60-sized pots, to the number of five plants in each pot ; then placed in a cold 

 close frame for a week, when they may be gradually hardened ; such of them 

 as will not admit of potting must be placed in an airy situation in the green- 

 house or heathery, not more than 2 ft. from the glass ; and such a place is 

 equally well adapted for those that have been potted off. 



" To increase the £'rica from cuttings requires more care on the part of the 

 gardener ; but, when a knowledge of the natural habits of the plant is at- 

 tained, his success will be almost as sure as raising them from seed ; in fact, in 

 numerous instances, more so. I have been in the habit of putting cuttings in 

 every month of the year; but, for my general stock, 1 prefer February, March, 

 April, and May. In preparing for this, it is necessary to get a quantity of 

 white sand, or sand similar to it in purity, though of a different colour ; but, 

 previously to using, it ought to be thoroughly washed, so that the water, when 

 poured off, should have a clear appearance. The pots for receiving the cut- 

 tings must be well cleaned, and Sin, of drainage put in, on which put turfy 

 peat earth to within 2 in. of the rim of the pot; then fill up the pot with the 

 sand, water and press it firmly down ; then take the bell-glass, and mark out 

 the space allotted for the cuttings. Having the pot clean, the sand pure, and 

 a very sharp knife, select the shoots that are of such a texture as, in cross- 

 cutting (that is, at a right angle with the cutting) close under a tier of leaves, 

 will not be bruised, which I consider a good criterion to judge of the fitness 

 of the cutting. The cutting should be held in the left hand, between the 

 forefinger and thumb ; then part the leaves, and cut them on the thumb nail ; 

 two tiers of them will -be sufficient to be cut off, as I have often found, with 

 a sharp knife, that cuttings would send out roots at the tier next the surface. 

 Then with a small dibble insert the cuttings in the sand, in rows, and place on 

 the outside of the bell-glass a tally, with the name of the £'rica it precedes, as 

 well as the day of the month when put in. If more than one species is put into 

 a pot, their time of rooting should be as similar as possible, or much trouble 

 will be occasioned. I do not excite the cuttings as soon as the pots are 

 stocked, I rather prefer a colder temperature for them at this time ; as, when 

 they are accelerated, there is less danger of their damping off; because, by so 

 treating them, a greater firmness has been obtained, and, consequently, they are 

 more hkely to resist any unnatural forcing that may be apphed, or any inat- 

 tention they may have experienced during their course of propagation. After 

 such treatment as I have recommended, they may be put into a hot-bed where 

 the heat has quite subsided, with the bell-glass over them during the day, and 

 shaded in sunny weather ; but, under such an exclusion of light, I never fail, 

 when the nights permit, to take off, not only the bell-glasses, but also the 

 lights, as, by so doing, I adhere to the principle of maintaining the hardness in 

 the cutting, by which we facilitate its rooting ; if this is not strictly carried 

 out, we merely elongate the cutting to the injury of its rooting. As the great 

 proportion of the cuttings will be rooting during the summer, I never fail in 

 potting them off as they are rooted. For this purpose some peat earth should 

 be kept in store : previously to using, it should be well rubbed through the 

 hands, and any very rough pieces taken out ; but by no means cleaned of that 

 vegetable substance which it possesses, when not taken at too great a distance 

 from the surface ; then add one part of sand to two of it. The same-sized pots 

 which were used for the seedlings will do for cuttings, and the same number of 



