296 



THE MOIST STOVE. 



IXARCHING TROPICAL PLANTS. 



There are some sorts of tropical plants, particularly those that are 

 hard-Tvooded, that are difficult to increase by other means than by seeds, 

 which are often not easy to procure. Recourse then is had to this mode 

 of propagation, which is sufficiently simple in itself, but requires some 

 nicety in the performance. The first consideration in regard to inarching 

 stove plants is to make choice of proper stocks, and these must always be 

 some of the coarser and free-growing species of the same genus, or one 

 nearly related to it, as for example, the common myrtle for the more 

 delicate sort of Myrtus and Pimenta, a genus nearly separated from the 

 former, but sufficiently akin to unite by this process ; the Mezereon and 

 Spurge Laurel for the more delicate species of Daphnej the Magnolia 

 obovata for the more tender of its family, and the Olea europea or 

 Ligustmm vulgare var. sempirvirenSj for the tropical species of ohves, &c. 

 Having selected the proper kind of stock, which should be as nearly of 

 equal diameter to the scion or branch to be united to it as possible, cut a 

 thin slip about two or three inches long and about one-third of the diame- 

 ter in thickness of both the stock and the branch to be united to it, and 

 from off the smoothest part of the stem of each. These two cuts must be 

 made as nearly alike as possible, so as to admit of the bark of each being 

 brought together so as to fit exactly, at least on one side, and be fastened 

 together firmly by tying them round mth fresh matting. This being 

 done, the joint is to be covered \\\X\\ well-prepared clay, grafting wax, or 

 fine moss, but in such a manner as perfectly to exclude the air. In eight 

 or ten weeks a union will have taken place ; at all events about that time 

 they may be partially separated from the parent plant by cutting the 

 inai'ched shoots better than half way through : if they are united, they will 

 bear the operation without flagging their leaves, and in that case may in 

 the course of a few days more be separated entirely, and be placed in a 

 shady part of the stove, or in the propagating pit, where they will soon 

 make good plants. After three or four weeks the matting may be untied 

 and the top of the stock cut off in a neat manner, applying a httle clay to 

 the wound to prevent the air or moisture from acting too powerfully 

 upon it. 



GENERAL TREATMENT OF TROPICAL PLANTS DURING AUTUMN AND 

 WINTER. 



By the beginning of September the nights begin to get cold, and often 

 wet ; it is then time to prepare the stoves, that is, both the Dry and also 



