SEPTEMBER. 



127 



from ripe wood ? We understand that the Vines obtained by Mr. Fleming's 

 process are weakly the first year, but become strong and healthy in the second, 

 if allowed to break in a cool house. Probably he has never pushed the process 

 to its extreme limits by availing himself of the third generation of laterals. 

 Let us, however, suppose he did. Would the consequences be injurious ? 

 We cannot but think that they might be ; for the laterals of the third genera- 

 tion, though active enough at first, would be likely to indicate symptoms of 

 inherent, and possibly incurable, debility, as has occurred to the Dahlia in 

 cases of the over-multiplication of that plant. 



This is certain, that if Vines are multiplied by the method above described, 

 and are struck comparatively late in the season, it will be more difficult for 

 them to ripen their wood than when coming from eyes in the usual way. 

 This is, however, mere speculation, and we should be glad to hear that our 

 anticipations are unfounded. — {Horticulturist.) 



THE HYDROPULT. 



The great secret of successful in-door gardening consists in the free and 

 judicious use of the syringe. A greenhouse or conservatory that does not 

 enjoy this luxury becomes a miserable lazar-house of vegetable incurables. 

 Vermin and filth hold unbounded sway, and people become disgusted with 

 their own want of success. Well do we recollect the former days of plant- 

 culture — the days of " collections," when the use of the syringe was yet limited 

 or unknown. What a time for red spider, scale, and green fly ! What fumi- 

 gations and consumption of tobacco and tobacco paper, washings with tobacco 

 water, and all sorts of remedies were resorted to ! 



We regard the introduction of the free \ise of the syringe as one of the events 

 in modern gardening. To this is due the success of orchard-house manage- 

 ment, Vine management, and plant management; but the old syringe Avith its 

 slow suck and squirt is now as much out of date in modern gardening as an 

 old stage waggon in modern locomotion. 



Many are the improvements and complications of the old simple syringe. 

 We have tried several of them; but for ease in working, and efficiency in 

 result, we have not yet met with anything to equal the hydropult sent us by 

 Mr. Button. It is powerful in operation, and so easy and comfortable to 

 work, that one never gets fatigued. With such an instrument plants mav be 

 kept in perfect health, and quite free from insects and dirt. We first used 

 it on a few Geraniums in our conservatory which were smothered with green 

 fly during our temporary absence of ten days ; but on our return a stout dis- 

 charge from the hydropult sent them clean off across some unknown bourne 

 whence they have never yet returned. 



As an improvement we would recommend to Mr. Button the desirable- 

 ness of supplying an additional rose of finer gauge than that fitted to the 

 hydropult we have, so that a fine shower might be made use of occasionally, 

 instead of the unmistakeable pelt to which plants must now be subjected. 



ITALIAN VERBENAS. 



Ik Nos. 166 and 167 of the Flore des Serres et des Jar dins de V Europe 

 there are two plates of what are called Italian Verbenas ; they are seedlings 

 raised by MM. Cavagnini freres of Brescia, and are all more or less beauti- 



