U6 ON THE TREATMENT OF HOVEA CELSII. 
More recently, at the great Exhibition in the Horticultural Society's Garden last 
month, we noticed a plant which appeared to be a variety of H.Celsii, similarly 
managed, from Mr. Hunt, gardener to Miss Traill, of Hayes Place. This, 
however, had, to all appearance, not been long treated thus ; for no results in the 
production of lateral branches were manifest. 
Now, the circumstances here described comprise a principle in the culture of 
this plant, and of free-growing shrubs generally, which it is of the utmost conse- 
quence to make known and inculcate. It is, that though, while advancing naturally 
in an erect position, the energies of the plant will be directed to the terminal 
extension of its shoots, and it will produce few laterals, and these only at the end 
of each year's grow T th ; any specimen may, by having its stem or lower branches 
bent, curved, or twisted spirally, have the current of its sap so retarded and 
interrupted, that it will, in order to obtain a freer course for its supplies, form fresh 
shoots on the sides of those brandies and stems. 
It is the application of this rule which has operated in the case above cited ; 
the means used being of a rather extreme kind, on account of the strong tendencies 
of the species. 
There are several modes, however, in which the practice may be carried out, 
so as to be beneficial to all plants, without leaving the process employed so very 
apparent; and these we shall just glance at here. To divert or check the fluid 
resources of the plant, and so control them that they shall have an expanding as 
well as a rising force, is the great object to be aimed at ; and where stopping the 
shoots cannot be sufficiently resorted to, it will depend on the extent to which 
the plant is inclined to branch, as to what amount of artificial assistance shall 
be given. 
If the species, like that under notice, be so stubbornly disposed to grow erectly, 
that a powerful check is required to be put on its progress, so as to make it branch 
properly ; the plan we have detailed may be fully adopted, and the stem be twisted 
spirally. If, again, the inclination to become bare at the bottom is not so great, 
but still needs modification, the stem may be bent and fastened on one side for a 
time, till it begins to throw out laterally, when it may be reversed, and fixed in the 
opposite direction, till the same result ensues on the other side. But supposing 
the specimen to be only a little given to acquire a straggling character, all the 
purposes of the culturist, in regard to bushiness, may be answered by slightly 
bending down the branches, and tying them in that position to a ring of wire round 
the edge of the pot, or to pegs inserted in the soil. 
The process last mentioned will apply to by far the greater portion of those plants 
which demand such attention ; and it is largely made use of by every good 
cultivator. We must explain, however, that it will be needless, or nearly so, in the 
instance of all species which can have their shoots duly pruned or stopped. 
In effecting any plan of this sort, it is to be remembered, that, while it recom- 
mends itself in reference to plants which have been permitted to straggle, as a mode 
