Book II. 



WOODY BARK-STOVE PLANTS. 



923 



tenness sooner than letting the leaves flag, and lie upon each other, which will be the positive consequence 

 of a neglect of shade. The most advisable method to do it is, to have a few large sheets of strong paper 

 to lay over the glasses within a frame; which, at the same time that it shades the cuttings, does not 

 prevent the sun's rays from entering the frame and clearing off any damps that may be accumulated 

 therein; whereas, if mats are laid on the outside of the frame-light, it is evident they will tend to have 

 the direct contrary efFect. However, in the course of a week or fortnight, they will be able to withstand 

 a little of the rays of the morning and evening sun. 



6680. While in an inactive state, they should be kept rather dry, but not let to an extreme ; else the bark 

 will become shrivelled, and occasion a very smart falling off amongst them ; on the other hand, should 

 they be kept in an over-moist state, tlie consequence would not be less disagreeable, on account of the 

 damp occasioned by the air being so closely confined under the glasses ; in tiiis case it would be of infinite 

 service to have the glasses wiped with a dry cloth about once a-week, which is quite sufficient for hot- 

 house cuttings, as they are not so liable to suffer from this cause as those of green-house plants. 



6681. As the heat of the bed declines, it will be necessary to have another, properly tempered, ready, in 

 which to plunge them when requisite ; or otherwise, let the old one be renovated with linings of fresh 

 warm dung ; but in such manner as to avoid creating any violent degree of heat or strong rank steam in 

 the bed ; as it is better to do it often and but slightly at a time, it being but a trifling increase of labor 

 compared with the probable consequences. By this management one may expect to have some of the 

 free-growing kinds well rooted, and making rapid progress, in the course of a very few weeks ; when such 

 is the case, it will be necessary to give them a little air by taking off the bell-glasses at night, and to keep 

 them a little moister than before. If they endure this pretty well for a few days, the glasses may be left 

 off entirely ; which will harden and prepare them by the time in which it may be thought convenient to 

 part and pot them separately. 



6682. In taking the bell-glasses off at night, it is necessary to observe that from their closeness they 

 sometimes occasion the cuttings, more frequently the harder sorts, to produce young leaves and even 

 shoots, before they have sufficient roots : if at any time these should be mistaken for well rooted plants, 

 and their glasses taken off accordingly, in a few hours they may be perceived by their leaves beginning to 

 flag; in which case the glasses must be immediately replaced ; otherwise, if neglected, these tender shoots 

 will be utterly spoiled, and it will be a very great chance whether the cutting will ever produce more or 

 not. Should the above circumstance happen, they will be observed to be more impatient of damp after- 

 wards; as indeed will all those be which are growing ; the glasses should therefore be more frequently 

 dried, and kept off until the leaves, &c. which were under them, become dry by evaporation ; lest we risk 

 their success, I may say, perhaps, their existence, by rotting the first weak efforts towards active life. 



6683. The rooted cuttings being thus prepared, they may be occasionally taken out of the frame, and set 

 in more exposed airy situations in the hot-house : but as some kinds require a much longer time to pro- 

 duce roots than others, it will be necessary to keep such still in the frame, shading and watering them 

 when requisite, as already directed. Thus may they be treated until the autumn ; when, if any yet re- 

 main in the cutting state, it will be advisable to have them taken to the propagation-stove, and plunged- 

 in the bark-pit; previously clearing them from any damps, moss, or weeds that may have grown amongst 

 them, and renewing the surface with a little fresh loam. Here they will require the same care as when in 

 the frame, except that as the influence of the sun decreases, so must the shading in proportion ; using it 

 only for two or three hours in the middle of the day, if at all requisite : and indeed it is necessary here to 

 observe, that in the winter, and early spring months, they must not be sliaded on any account, nor watered 

 except when absolute necessity requires it; neither should the cuttings that may be occasionally made at 

 these seasons, receive any water when first put in, as directed for those made in summer, as the~mouId 

 will be found in general sufficiently moist, in itself ; and as there is not that quick principle of vegetation 

 at this season, the water might prove materially injurious, by promoting damp and rottenness. It is even 

 necessary in some instances, should the cutting be of a succulent plant, or in any degree approaching that 

 nature, to provide loam rather dry, than moist; in which they must be planted and left without water, 

 until they have completely formed their callosities, and the wounds are healed ; however, in either case, 

 those fresh put in must be partially shaded for a few days, should the weather happen to be clear and 

 sunny. It will be also necessary to dry the inside of the bell-glasses more frequently in the winter months ; 

 as there is generally a stronger heat kept in the tan-jjit, which gives rise to an increased evaporation ; and 

 damp at this season should be more particularly avoided than at any other. In the ensuing spring those 

 put in early, as well as what have remained since the preceding summer, will in general make an effort to 

 grow ; as soon as they are observed in this state, let them be managed in the same manner as those already 

 rooted have been. 



6684. In regard to parting and potting the rooted cuttings or seedlings separately, the greatest nicety 

 should be observed ; first, in turning them out of the pots without lacerating the roots ; and secondly, in 

 shaking and working the earth from amongst them, until they can be readily parted without breaking ; 

 if any of the mould can be conveniently preserved to them, so much the better ; but the preservation of 

 the roots should be the principal object. They must be immediately potted in their proper soil, in pots 

 suited to the size of the cuttings, and neatly tied up, if necessary ; let them be then well watered with a 

 rose-pot moderately fine, but by no means should they be flooded, or slushed with it, as too many are apt 

 to do, but let it be given gently, and time allowed for it to soak regularly into the mould. They will re- 

 quire a brisk heat and close shading for a few days, uritil they have established themselves in the fresh 

 mould. {Exotic Gardener, 26.) 



6685. Laying and inarching are rarely practised on hot-house plants. However, 

 there are some that do not produce roots freely by cuttings, which may be multiplied 

 successfully by these methods. 



6686. In laying, choice should be made of the young tender shoots of the present year ; the soft bark of 

 which will sooner form a callosity, and produce roots, than that of any of the preceding year's growth. It 

 is particularly necessary to observe whether the plant intended to be laid is of a brittle nature or not ; for 

 if it is, it will be necessary that the shoots be pegged gently down to the surface previous to laying, and 

 thus left until their tops naturally acquire a perpendicular direction, which they will do in a few days; 

 without this precaution, it would be extremely difficult to cut or tongue them without cracking, or break- 

 ing them off'; but if treated in this manner, the most brittle may be layed without danger. It is a con- 

 elusion drawn from several experiments, that the layer, which is inserted to a proper depth, roots sooner 

 and better than that which is laid near the surface ; the reason of which is, at a certain depth the air is 

 better excluded, and there is a more regular degree of moisture for the nourishment of the young fibres, 

 when they make their appearance. No part of the shoot should on any pretence be covered with the 

 mould, except that which is meant to produce roots, as the covering the whole renders it extremely liable 

 to rot ; and therefore, if any particularly tender plant should happen to be thus treated, it would evidently 

 endanger the whole stool. 



6687. J««rcA««g- is much preferable to the common grafting, for evergreens in particular ; it isprinci. 

 pally practised as the best means of multiplying all the double varieties of camellia and plants of similar 

 habits ; because their strong leaves, if only for a few days deprived of their regular support, by being cut 

 clear from the mother stock, if not covered closely with a glass, will be certain to wither and fall off"; 

 after which there will be but very slender chance of the scion's completing a union : it is performed as 

 follows : having provided a stock, which should always be some of the coarser free kinds of the same 

 genus of plants, and nearly of the same diameter as the shoot which is intended for inarching ; cut a 



