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ZINC FOR HORTICULTURAL PURPOSES. 
hastened by planting the tubers beside a conservative wall, where the young 
shoots would be protected from frosts, and encouraged to spring sooner, and grow 
somewhat more rapidly than in the exposed border. 
It produces seed, though not so freely as some of the species ; sufficiently so, 
however, to render it highly probable that varieties of an improved character, 
perhaps double ones, might be reared from it. Crimson streaks, or a richer 
ground colour might probably be obtained by cross-fertilising with such as the 
atrosanguinea variety of T. majus, or the brilliant scarlet T. Lobbianum recently 
introduced by Messrs. Veitch and Sons, of Exeter. This is a process we like to 
keep attention fixed upon ; for, magnificent as some of its results have already 
proved, we believe that a vast deal more may be effected by perseverance with a 
judicious selection of subjects, than anything which its influence has yet produced. 
ZINC FOR HORTICULTURAL PURPOSES. 
In conjunction with a good system of treating plants, there are some other 
points to which it is at times useful to draw attention ; amongst which we at present 
fasten upon that of perfecting economy, neatness, and general efficiency of the 
different apparatus employed in a garden. Many substances have of late years 
been made available for a variety of purposes in gardening, by which the opera- 
tions of the culturist have been much facilitated, and the general aspect of the 
garden improved. We have before spoken of slate, and now bring forward another 
substance — zinc, which has been found useful in several ways, and appears to be 
possessed of sufficient merit to warrant a short notice. 
The material being light and free from corrosion, it is more eligible for many 
purposes than either iron, lead, or tin-plate. It appears to be well suited for the 
manufacture of watering-pots, and similar utensils in every-day requisition. It is 
of course somewhat heavier than tin-plate, but this is so trifling in an ordinary- 
sized watering-pot, as to be a matter of little consequence. The primitive cost also 
is greater ; this, however, is more than balanced by the greater length of time it 
will last, and by there being no necessity to use paint, which is quite indispensable 
with tin. Besides, even when every precaution has been observed against it, it is 
almost impossible to keep a tin watering-pot from corroding, and hence requiring 
frequent repairs. Roses to fit them may also be made of zinc, as they are now 
usually made of tin ; but we prefer having the perforated part of a rose of copper 
or brass, and made loose, to screw into a socket of the same material fastened upon 
a zinc or tin shank. With this contrivance, whatever impurities exist in the 
water may be prevented from materially obstructing its passage through the perfo- 
rations, by occasionally unscrewing the end and cleaning it out. It is of some 
importance in economising time, for it would occupy more time to force water 
