PROPAGATION. 



371 



require their cuttings to be placed under tlie in- 

 fluence of bottom heat, it is necessary to use this 

 precaution, the effect of extra heat upon all cuttings 

 being to excite them into growth almost imme- 

 diately ; and in the case of aU those cuttings the 

 CaUusing and rooting of which is slow, the early 

 growth is made at the expense of that stored-up 

 vitality which, under proper treatment, is expended 

 in the formation of roots. The most successful 

 method for the propagation of Boronias is that of 

 grafting for most of the species, using as a stock the 

 vigorous £. elatior, which strikes freely under treat- 



Genistas. &. Everestiana is generally grafted upon 

 stocks of G. fragrant. 



Turning now to another section of the hard- 

 wooded plants, viz., the intermediate ones, the 

 Azaleas, CamelUas, Oranges, and Khododendrons 

 (green-house) are the most popular and best ex- 

 amples. In the propagation of these plants, grafting 

 is had recourse to for the greater portion of them, 

 some of the freer growers and easiest propagated 

 being used as stocks. For Azaleas the common 

 white one, A. alia, is most frequently used as a 

 stock upon which the others may be grafted. 



Fig. 7. — ^Araucaria ezcelsa. 



Fig. 8.— Ehododen- 

 drou. Princess Alice. 



Fig. 9.— Azalea 

 indica. 



Fig. 10.— Camellia 

 japonica. 



ment as described above, is a quick grower, and as a 

 stock is an excellent nurse for the weaker-growing 

 species. £. megaatigma may be either struck or 

 grafted. Correas are generally worked upon the 

 free-striking C. alba, which is also a suitable stock 

 for Eriostemons and Croweas. The latter are never 

 so satisfactory when upon their own roots as they 

 are when grafted upon Correa alia or Sriosteimn 

 intermedia. Cuttings of Aphelexis and Phsenoooma 

 strike best when placed in pots standing upon a cool 

 ash bottom. Cytisuses, or Genistas, as they are 

 generally called, require exceptional treatment for 

 their propagation. A dung hot-bed, as hot as is 

 used for Cucumbers, is required, in which the pots 

 of cuttings" should be placed under cover of a close 

 frame, and vfithout the bell-glasses over theni. It is 

 necessary to allow the cuttings to callus by treating 

 them as advised above, before subjecting them to the 

 heat and moisture of a hot-bed. The autumn and 

 spring are both equally favourable lor the increase of 



Many of them, however, thrive well when grown 

 from cuttings, which should be put in during August 

 or September, selecting woody shoots with growing 

 points, and dibbling them into pots filled two-thirds 

 with drainage, and the remainder with sandy peat, 

 surfaced with dean silver sand. A propagating- 

 frame in which the atmosphere can be kept moist, 

 and at a temperature of about 65°, will answer for 

 the propagation of large numbers ; bell-glasses, and 

 a shaded position where the temperature can be 

 maintained at 65°, being equally suitable for small 

 quantities of cuttings. If after having been treated 

 thus for three weeks the pots are plunged in a gentle 

 hot-bed or heated cocoa-nut fibre, roots wUl be very 

 speedily formed. The cuttings should be about three 

 inches in length, and if possible have a portion of the 

 old wood attached to their bases (see Figs. 7, 8, 9) . 



Camellias are almost invariably grafted upon 

 the common red kind, C. japonica, which is increased 



