t 



1853.] THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. 293 



l^pagate, as cuttings, when not well matured, are apt to damp off in toot- ,v) 

 ^ torn heat ; and when too hard, they frequently take so long to root ^ 

 that they exhaust the patience of the propagator ; and it is difficult, if \ 

 not absolutely impossible, to give instructions which would enablethe 

 inexperienced person to select cuttings in the proper stage of ripeness; 

 but practice and careful observation will overcome this difficulty, and 

 the Luculia will be found to root in bottom heat in a shorter time than 

 is required by many of our favorite plants. Until this is the case, 

 however, adopt the following method, which, if slow, has the recom- 

 mendation of being sure. 



Select cuttings of short-jointed pieces as early in the season as they 

 can be had in a rather hard state. These may be obtained in May, if 

 a plant is left without being cut down after flowering. Slip them off 

 with a heel, and use the knife merely to remove any loose bark which 

 may extend beyond the wood, and to divest them of superfluous leaves. 

 Insert the cuttings thus prepared in small thumb pots filled with sandy 

 peat, and give a moderate watering, to settle the soil, &c. But ob- 

 serve, with respect to the soil, that it should be in a rather moist state 

 when used, as the cuttings are impatient of damp, which, in the event 

 of repeated waterings being necessary, it is difficult to prevent. After 

 potting, place them in a shady situation in a house, the temperature 

 of which may average 55°, and cover them with a hand-glass. The 

 only farther attention which they will require, will be an occasional 

 sprinkling oi water,- this should be applied towards the evening, the 

 plants left uncovered until the following morning, and in cloudy wea- 

 ther it may be necessary to remove the hand-glass, or place it so that 

 there may be a circulation of air, so as to prevent damp. If cuttings 

 are properly attended to in these respects, and allowed to remain du- 

 ring the summer in some quiet corner, the probability is that nine- 

 tenths of them will root. They should be carefully attended to du- 

 ring the winter, and should not be thrown away; even if after having 

 been in the cutting-pots the whole summer they should not be found 

 rooted, give them the farther chance of a little bottom heat during 

 next January. As soon as they are fairly rooted they will grow away 

 freely, and should be shifted into a size larger pots, and gradually ex- 

 posed to a freer circulation of air. No advantage will be gained by 

 keeping them in a temperature exceeding 60°, as, if they are kept in 

 a warmer place, they will grow weaker, and will require so much 

 stopping to keep them bushy that the lo^s will probably exceed the 

 profit. As the sun becomes powerful, it will be necessary to shade at 

 least a few hours during the middle of the day, for this plant is ex- 

 \ ceedingly liable to suffer from the direct rays of the sun ; and I have 

 cV never been able to do any good with it, except when I could protect J^ 

 i«vit in this respect; and 1 have also found that sudden exposure to dry-G\ 



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