S64< 



LISTS OF TREES, &C. 



SECT. XIX,. 



handfome or healthy) fhould be /evenly cut, for a late 

 blow, which generally proves ifine one in confequence. 

 A judicious regular ufe of neat {lender flicks is of much 

 advantage to geraniums, or other potted plants. 



What has been faid of geraniums, applies to all 

 thofe Exotics, called Greenhouje Plants, in the ma- 

 nagement of which, it is a material thing not to fhift 

 into too large pots, as the roots run dire&ly to the out- 

 fides, and fo would be too haftily brought to require the 

 biggefl pots. Another thing is, to take off fome of the 

 top foil, not only as dire&ed in fprlng, but once or 

 twice in the fummer; and always before houfing in au- 

 tumn^ and replacing it with a rich compofl, as one of 

 aim oft all rotten cow dung, which being black, is the 

 moft fuitable to the eye, and it is cool and nourifhing. 



It is material to nealnejs, and the end of ornament, 

 (for which plants are chiefly potted) that the pots- 

 Ihould be occafionally warned, or fcoured, and by no 

 means fuffered to get mouldy. This is a point fo little 

 attended to, that we fometimes fee a beautiful plant in 

 a very difgufting habitation. It is equally offenfive, 

 and injurious, to fuffer the furface earth to get mofly, 

 or caked hard by the neceflary waterings ; to prevent 

 which, often ftir it a little depth, and lay it fmooth, 

 which makes all look creditable. 



Pinks are fometimes layered, or more ufually pro- 

 pagated by cuttings, or pipings, about MidJutnmer ; and 

 may be alfo by Jlips, fet in March, April, or May, 

 with, or without roots, four inches afunder. Cuttings 

 ihould be young ftrong moots of three or four inches 

 long, taken off juft below a joint ; from which flap- 

 ping the lower leaves, and cutting the top ones fhort, 

 plant them in a fine good foil, about two inches afun- 

 der, and in depth full half of their length. They will 

 ftrike root, fo as to be fit to move, in feven or eight 

 weeks, with a little earth about their roots ; or may 

 be left to an early time in the fpring ; but where this 

 is defignec), they will be bed fix inches afunder. They 



may 



