REMARKS ON THE GENUS NERIUM. 
233 
manure, or, in preference, the black veg-etable soil produced by the deconnposition of 
leaves and stable manure, used for linings and hot-beds. 
We have, by this treatment, succeeded in striking- a cutting eight inches long, 
with the cluster of flower-buds fully formed. It was cut off from a plant in the 
open air in August, and struck in water. In three weeks or less the rooted cutting 
was transferred to soil, and being well watered, and plunged for a day or two into a 
shady part of a bed of leaves, it did not flag for a moment. The flower-buds 
enlarged, and soon became perfect. This mode of procuring very small plants may 
be considered as more amusing than profitable, or even desirable, yet it proves what 
may be eff"ected. 
The other method, and that which we recommend as by far the most likely 
to obtain handsome and early blowing plants in the spring, is the following : — Take 
cuttings of two or three joints from an old and strong plant, at any time during 
September and October ; and, after removing the lower leaves, make the heel of 
each, immediately below the joint, perfectly smooth. We will suppose that a dozen 
cuttings are thus prepared, and that the mother shrub has stood exposed among 
greenhouse plants in the open air. Some of these will, in ail probability, have the 
heads of the future bloom formed and enclosed in the heart of the upper leaves. 
Place plenty of drainage at the bottom of a 32-sized pot and cover it with a little 
moss. Upon the moss put the soil, consisting of five parts sandy heath-mould, and 
one part of rich loam, thoroughly incorporated ; press it firmly into the pot, to 
within an inch of the rim ; then make holes close to the edge of the pot, put half 
an inch of sand into each, and press it down with the setting-stick. Each hole is 
to receive one cutting, and this is to be inserted exactly one joint deep, the hole 
being then filled with sand, and that pressed as compactly as possible about the heel 
and wood. A good watering is finally to be given, and the pot placed in a pine pit 
or other warm and close frame. Water ought to be given occasionally, so as to keep 
the soil in free and gently moist condition. 
From a pot of cuttings thus prepared, and kept at a temperature frequently 
below fifty degrees, we have acquired above two- thirds of their number of well- 
rooted plants in March ; and these, potted ofl" into sixties, in a moderately enriched 
loam, and placed in a temperate stove, have given us three or four little shrubs, 
which have sui^^ported perfect bunches of fine large flowers in April and May. It 
is extremely gratifying to obtain, by means so easy of adoption, a garland of the 
most beautiful rosy blossoms on plants hardly one foot in height. 
Nerium-oleander, or Rose-bay, belongs to the fifth class, first order of the 
Linnsean System ; it comprises plants of surprising beauty, with erect, straight stems, 
long rigid leaves, produced, as are the branches, usually in threes ; the flowers are 
white, pale pink, or full rose-colour, supported on terminal open spikes, or corym- 
bose bunches. There are three species and five varieties in the catalogue of the 
Hortus Britannicus, of which the most desirable are, 
Nerium Splendens ; from South of Europe in 1814. 
ODOBUM ; sweet-scented, and full-flowers, a native of the East 
Indies, known here for above a hundred and fifty years. 
These shrubs are hardy, or nearly so, but small plants will not perfect their 
VOL. III. NO. XXXIV. H H 
