746 



OPEN FLOWER-GARDEN. 



Hudsonia. — Nearly related to Erica, and re- 

 quiring the same treatment and situation in the 

 garden. 



Kalmia. — This beautiful dwarf flowering tribe 

 is propagated by cuttings of the young wood 

 early in summer, set in silvery sand or very 

 sandy peat, placed in a partially-shaded place, 

 and under the protection of a hand-glass. They 

 also root by layers put down in August or Sep- 

 tember, but from the very brittle nature of the 

 wood great care is required that the branches 

 be not broken during the operation. The best 

 way, however, is by seed, which often ripens 

 in Britain, and can be readily procured from 

 America. It should be sown in March in sandy 

 peat, and in pans placed in a close frame or pit, 

 until the young plants are up. As soon as they 

 are fit to handle, they should be pricked out 

 into a pit quite close to the glass, and kept close 

 till they have taken with the soil, when air must 

 be gradually admitted to harden them off for 

 standing the sun and air without further pro- 

 tection. The following spring they will be fit 

 for planting out into nursery-beds. The Kal- 

 mias are amongst the finest of all American 

 flowering-shrubs, and the most beautiful of the 

 whole is Latifolia, which, however, does not often 

 flower in Scotland. 



Laurus. — The hardy deciduous species of this 

 genus are natives of North America and Carolina, 

 and stand the climate of the south of England in 

 most places, not so generally in the north. We 

 have, however, seen some splendid specimens in 

 the American grounds of the south of England. 

 They are propagated by cuttings placed under 

 hand-glasses in the end of summer, also by 

 layers and by cuttings of the roots in spring or 

 autumn. Seed is, however, the best way, and 

 as this is, we suppose, never matured in Britain, 

 dependence must be placed on procuring a sup- 

 ply from America. The seeds, like many other 

 hard-coated ones, require to lie one year in the 

 ground before vegetation takes place. The 

 amateur may, therefore, bury the seed of this 

 and similar plants in a flower-pot mixed with soil 

 in a place where he is sure to find it, and, if 

 possible, in one where vermin will not destroy 

 it. 



Ledum. — Is propagated in the same way as 

 Kalmia (which see). They are dwarf-growing 

 shrubs, and with Kalmias, Gaultheria shallon, 

 form fine fringes for groups of azaleas, rhodo- 

 dendrons, and similar taller shrubs. 



Lyonia. — A genus nearly related to Andro- 

 meda, requiring the same mode of treatment 

 (which see), but rather a moister soil, particu- 

 larly when planted out for good. 



Madura. — The species aurantiaca is hardy 

 enough for a wall; propagated by cuttings of 

 the roots set in a bottom-heat, and also by 

 layers. Seeds may be abundantly procured 

 from America, where in some parts it is culti- 

 vated for hedges, and also for its fruit. 



Magnolia. — The most magnificent of all the 

 North American flora. Propagated by imported 

 seed, which is readily procured from America, 

 or from France, where most of the species ripen 

 their seed freely, but seldom in Britain. The 

 seed should be sown in pans placed in a mild 



bottom-heat in March. They do not vegetate 

 simultaneously, but as they do, they should be 

 carefully taken up and potted singly into 

 48-sized pots, and placed in a cool pit, and 

 protected during winter, and potted as they 

 require it, until they have attained a size to be 

 planted out, which will be in three or four 

 years, according to the habits of the species. 

 Objections are made by some against plants 

 reared from seed, alleging that they do not 

 flower so soon as those propagated by other 

 means. This is, no doubt, so far true, but, on 

 the other hand, such plants make much better 

 specimens, and continue longer in health and 

 vigour. They are also propagated by layers ; 

 indeed, this is the usual way in British nurseries. 

 Layering should be done in September, and in 

 two years they will be rooted sufficiently to be 

 taken off and potted; and then they should be kept 

 in a cool pit till well established. They are found 

 to transplant better from pots than if they were 

 taken from the open ground ; but, on the other 

 hand, this dread of injuring the roots is often 

 attended with an equally bad consequence, for 

 if the roots are confined to the narrow limits of 

 a pot of 7 or 9 inches in diameter, sizes seldom 

 exceeded, they become coiled in such a manner 

 that without great care in separating them at 

 planting they will be in the state we have 

 described, p. 370, and illustrated, figs. 130, 131. 

 Therefore, upon the whole, after they have 

 established themselves in pots for a few months, 

 after being separated from the stool, it is better 

 to plant them out in the nursery, and take the 

 necessary precautions at lifting and packing that 

 will insure success in removal. The stronger 

 growers, like macrophylla and tripetala, are 

 difficult to lay on account of the brittleness of 

 their shoots ; these should undoubtedly be ori- 

 ginated from seed. Budding, inarching, and 

 grafting, are employed in the case of the weaker- 

 growing species and stronger-growing sorts, such 

 as acuminata, obovata, &c, are used for stocks; 

 and even in this way a union does not soon take 

 place, often requiring from eighteen months to 

 two years, and after all they do not make such 

 lasting plants as those reared from seed or by 

 layers, although they bloom sooner. The hardy 

 American sorts are glauca and its varieties, 

 longifolia, tripetala, acuminata, auriculata, ma- 

 crophylla, maxima, cordata. Grandiflora and 

 its varieties, being natives so far south as Caro- 

 lina, stand only as open standards in the south 

 of England, but to flower them well in most 

 parts of Scotland they require to be planted 

 against a well-exposed wall, with slight protec- 

 tion during winter. A quite dry, deep, sandy, 

 or peaty soil, if we except glauca and its varie- 

 ties, is the most suitable, the latter requiring 

 peat and a moderate degree of moisture, parti- 

 cularly during its growing season. 



Mahonia. — Nearly related to Berberis. The 

 American species are all readily propagated by 

 seed, which in most cases is produced in Britain. 

 The time of sowing is March, in sandy soil, in a 

 cool pit or border. Most of them root freely by 

 cuttings put in in September, and some produce 

 suckers from which good plants may be obtained. 

 Like the Kalmia, &c, they are of dwarfish 



