41 



ON THE PROPAGATION OF PHCENOCOMA PROLIFERA.— D. Don. 

 Elychrysum Proliferum. Willd. Xeranthemum Proliferum. Lin. 

 BY DAVID CAMERON, A.L.S., Botanic Garden, Edgbaston. 



Phoenocoma Prolifera, although introduced in the year 1789, and an esteemed 

 favourite with cultivators of greenhouse plants, still continues scarce, in conse- 

 quence of its propagation not being well understood. It propagates readily 

 from cuttings, but (unlike most of the other hard-wooded plants whose cuttings 

 are selected from the young wood) those only must be selected which are at 

 least two years old ; and if to be obtained, old scrubby plants are best suited for 

 that purpose. 



The cuttings should be made with a heel, and their tops left on, as they 

 seldom require much dressing previous to being plunged in the sand. Plant 

 tliem in a pot of sand two or three inches deep, giving them a good watering. 

 Afterwards plunge them into a brisk hotbed, without being covered with bell- 

 glasses. They will produce an abundance of roots in about two months, and if the 

 cuttings are put in about April, will make strong plants the same season. When 

 rooted, pot them singly with a third part sand, using plenty of drainers. Young 

 shoots taken off when about two inches long will also root under glasses, but 

 are very uncertain, requiring great care to prevent them from damping off; and 

 when they succeed they are long in making good plants ; whereas, almost every 

 cutting of the old wood strikes readily, and is of a good size when ready for 

 potting off. 



NOTICES OF NEW WORKS ON BOTANY, HORTICULTURE, &c. 



Withering's Systematic Arrangement of British Plants, by W. Macgillivray, 

 A.M., F.R.S.E., Conservator of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh. 



At a time when botany is probably exciting more general attention than at 

 any former period, it gives us great pleasure to be able to announce to our 

 readers the publication of several works well calculated to facilitate the study of 

 that delightful science ; among which may be mentioned Macgillivray's Withering. 

 The arrangement is according to the Linnean system, and the work is so 

 judiciously condensed as to be brought within the compass of a small pocket 

 volume. It will consequently be found a most useful companion by every student 

 of British botany. Of its general accuracy we can speak from personal experience. 

 The present edition (which is the third) we have not yet seen ; but it is stated 

 to have been brought down to the present period, to have been considerably enlarged, 

 and that " nearly one hundred species of plants have been added, chiefly of such 

 as are peculiar to Ireland, to render the work applicable to that country as 



VOL. II. NO. XV. MAY. G 



