748 



OPEN FLOWER-GARDEN. 



stools in the nursery ground, and the young 

 shoots laid in March or in September. This 

 mode will continue the identical variety without 

 change, but unless there are many stools the 

 stock procured will be limited in number. They 

 are also capable of being increased by cuttings, 

 and for this purpose beds should be prepared 

 as recommended for seed, only double the depth 

 of soil ; and instead of the thin stratum of sand 

 there advised, in the present case it should be 

 from 3 to 5 inches deep, according to the length 

 of cuttings to be used. Young wood should be 

 chosen when it has begun to get firm towards 

 its base ; it should be cut across immediately 

 below a joint or leaf, the leaves only removed as 

 far as the cutting is to be inserted, leaving those 

 above perfectly entire. Insert the cuttings 

 pretty thickly, and to the depth of 3 or 4 

 inches ; cover them with a frame and sashes, 

 keeping them pretty close and well shaded, so 

 that the leaves may not fall off" or become 

 shrivelled. In a few weeks callosities will form 

 at their bases, and from these the roots will 

 issue, at which time more air muot be given, and 

 progressively increased afterwards. Some cul- 

 tivators set their cuttings in this way, and 

 when they have formed their callosities take 

 them up, having previously prepared a bed upon 

 bottom-heat, and in this insert the cuttings, 

 which, in consequence of the heat below, make 

 roots rapidly. By the former process the ope- 

 ration is less speedily effected, but it is equally 

 certain. Where the number to be struck is 

 small, it is a good method to place the cuttings 

 in pots placed in a cool frame till the callosity 

 is formed, and afterwards to remove them to 

 another frame, where they can be plunged in a 

 mild bottom - heat without disturbing them. 

 Such would be the plan for amateurs to adopt. 

 Grafting, budding, and inarching are adopted in 

 the case of new or rare sorts, the operations 

 being conducted under glass. It is of great im- 

 portance in such cases that the stock be strong, 

 healthy, and if a vigorous -growing variety so 

 much the better. New seedlings, which might 

 be several years before they flowered naturally, 

 have been made to do so in one year by being 

 grafted on stocks with very long stems. This, 

 which we think an important discovery, was 

 pointed out to us lately by Mr Laing of Dysart 

 House as the means he used in flowering 

 R Dalhousii, which he has had the good fortune 

 to do before any one else. The stock on which 

 he grafted a shoot of the plant in question is 

 about 7 or 8 feet in length, the pot in which it 

 is growing sunk considerably under the floor of 

 the house and brought up through the stage, 

 and still the top of the plant, with its fine head 

 of bloom, is considerably above the other plants 

 in the house. 



Rhodora. — A pretty flowering dwarf shrub, 

 propagated by layers and cuttings, and some- 

 times by imported seed; forms an excellent 

 foreground to larger masses. 



Shepherdia. — Propagated by imported seed, 

 but generally by suckers which rise from the 

 roots. 



Stuartia. — Is, for the most part, increased by 

 layers, and prefers a rather moist peaty soil. 



Styrax, of which there are three American 

 species, requires the protection of a wall to bloom 

 it profusely. Propagation is effected by cut- 

 tings and layers, and also by imported seed. 

 They also require a pretty deep, dry, sandy, or 

 peaty soil. 



Vaccinium. — The great majority of the genus 

 are natives of America, many of them producing 

 pretty flowers, and the greater part fruit, some 

 of which is of considerable merit. They form, 

 in the American garden, a good foreground to 

 shrubs of higher growth. Are all propagated by 

 seed sown in September, and by cuttings during 

 summer, placed in sandy peat, under a hand- 

 glass. Most of the creeping sorts root freely in 

 the ground, and may be separated, and treated 

 as distinct plants. 



Yucca. — The American species, as well as those 

 from other countries, are increased by suckers, 

 which sometimes arise from the roots, and 

 by young shoots which branch from the stems. 

 The best mode, however, is to bare the roots 

 carefully, and remove the knotty protuberances, 

 or underground knars, which are found on the 

 stem underground, and also on the larger roots. 

 These, if removed carefully, and potted, and set 

 in a mild bottom-heat, produce roots, and after- 

 wards leaves and stems, and in time perfect 

 plants. The older the plant, the more numerous 

 these knars are. Seed is rarely produced in 

 Britain, but is occasionally imported from Ame- 

 rica and France, in which latter country they 

 seed freely. Although the Yuccas thrive well 

 in a deep peaty soil, they, nevertheless, espe- 

 cially Y. gloriosa, do so in an extraordinary de- 

 gree when grown in strong deep clay. They 

 produce the most imposing effect when planted 

 singly on the open lawn, or in groups, the taller 

 species occupying the centre. 



CLIMBING PLANTS SUITED TO THE AMERICAN 

 GARDEN. 



Ampelopsis. — Increased by layers and cuttings 

 in spring. 



Aristolochia. — Sipho, tomentosa, and Arkansa, 

 are propagated, like the last, by layers in spring, 

 and both will thrive in a soil not directly peat; 

 and to increase their vigour of growth, which is, 

 in general an object with most climbing plants, 

 enrichment should be accorded them. 



Atragene, americana. ) Propagated by layers in 



Bignonia capreolata. ( spring, laid in pots. 



Clematis virginiana, Viorna, cylindrica, Simsii, 

 reticulata, ochroleuca, and crispa, ditto. 



Caprifolium dioicum, sempervirens, gratum, 

 flavum, pubescens, ciliosum. — Propagated by 

 cuttings and layers, in March, set in sandy 

 loam. 



Lonicera ciliata, oblongifolia. — Propagated by 

 layers and cuttings in March, set in sandy loam. 



Menispermum. — By layers and cuttings in 

 sandy loam. 



Smilax. — Those of America are propagated by 

 cuttings, layers, and many of them by suckers 

 rising from the roots. 



Tecoma radicans. — Propagated by layers and 

 single eyes, like the vine ; the former laid in 

 March, in sandy peaty soil, the latter cut into 



