Feb,] 



GREEN-HOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



1023 



Some prefer taking in spring the shoots of tlie previous year's 

 growth, which they plant in pots, as above, and cover witli 

 glasses in like manner; but instead of putting tliem imme- 

 diately in a bottom-heat, they prefer plunging them in a cold 

 frame, where they remain three or four months in an apparently 

 inactive state : at the end of that time, part of them will have 

 formed that callous excrescence at their base which forms on 

 most plants previous to the emission of roots, and such as 

 have not this appearance at their base, have little chance of 

 succeeding. During the following winter they are kept in a 

 low temperature, and in the ensuing spring are placed in a 

 moderate hot-bed, where they push freely, and become good 

 plants. 



Laying, as a mode of propagating oranges, has been tried, 

 but not to any extent, so far as we know, in this country, although 

 it be not unusual on the continent. This is the less to be 

 regretted, as plants of any kind so produced seldom make fine 

 trees ; and as the other methods of propagation are so suc- 

 cessfully and easily accomplished, we cannot recommend the 

 adoption of a process so unlikely to answer the end in view. 

 As inarching is a species of grafting, or what is called graft- 

 ing by approach, this family may be successfully increased by 

 that means, and although we have not observed it in practice, 

 we think it very probable that orange-trees may be increased 

 in size by inarching several pretty large plants on one stock, 

 as is done to a certain extent in the cultivation of CameUlas ; 

 at least the idea appears feasible enough to deserve a trial. 



Orange-trees are sometimes propagated from seeds, not al- 

 too-ether with a view to obtain stocks, but also for the purpose 

 of remaining in their natural state, and instances occur of 

 their coming into a fruit-bearing state, while of a small size 

 and of only a few years growth : this we learn from a com- 

 munication in the Transactions of the Botanical and Horti- 

 cultural Society of Durham, Northumberland, 6cc., to be 

 practised by Mr. Gray, of Bclsay Castle, who details his mode 

 of culture as follows:— "I have at present," says he, "a 

 seedling lemon-tree, with upwards of forty green fruit on it, 

 likely to swell to a great size ; those which are engrafted or 

 budded, I observe, come sooner to a bearing state, but are 



