BELONGING TO THE GENUS STATICE. 
257 
rough wood and garden refuse must be prepared in the same way as for burning 
charcoal ; but instead of covering the heap over with soil, as generally the case, to 
prevent too rapid combustion, coat the whole over with cow-dung, in a crust of from 
four to six inches thick ; then light the fire and cover the whole of the cow-dung over 
with garden refuse, and regulate the admission of air to the interior of the heap so 
as to prevent the fire burning too rapidly. When the fire has burnt out, the cow- 
dung will be found standing like a crust over it, and may be removed and kept in a 
dry place for use. It is not necessary to break it into small pieces in using it for 
pot plants, though of course every particle may be used ; but if kept in tolerably 
large pieces — say about the size of filberts or walnuts-— it will be found to act 
mechanically as well as chemically. This is one of the best manures for pot plants 
we have ever used; unlike guano and some of the chemical substitutes now so 
generally recommended, it may be used in quantity without any risk of doing 
injury; and for all soft- wooded plants and many free-growing hard- wooded ones, it 
will be found a very suitable and excellent manure. To return, however, to the 
potting, the plants, if well rooted, may be removed from the nine into twelve-inch pots, 
taking care to drain them thoroughly, and to use the compost in a free, open state. 
After this shift, the plants must be returned to their former quarters, giving 
them abundance of air after they have recovered the shift, but not increasing the 
temperature, except by sun-heat. Syringe the plants copiously every day, and 
persevere with the sponge-washing of the foliage as often as necessary. After this 
shift, the plants will begin to show bloom ; but it is not advisable to allow the 
flower-stems to remain, unless early flowers are required, until the pots are full of 
roots, and then they will be strong and vigorous. At this time a little liquid 
manure may be given to the plants once or twice a week ; but care must be taken to 
use it only in a perfectly clear state, and very weak. Being natives of salt marshes, 
a little salt may be added to the manure-water with advantage ; but it will be 
necessary to administer it with considerable caution, and not too frequently. 
When the plants begin to expand their flowers, they may be removed to the 
greenhouse, and here they will continue to bloom for a considerable period. It is 
not, however, advisable to expose the plants to strong sunlight, as the leaves are 
very tender, and consequently it will be necessary to shade them during the summer 
months. 
Statice arborea may be propagated by cuttings of the side branches, not taken 
off in the usual manner, but prepared for rooting previously to removing them from 
the parent plant. This preparation is made by cutting an incision sloping upwards 
about half way through the stem, in which, to keep it open, a small peg or wedge 
must be inserted. This, in about a fortnight, will have cicatrised over, preparatory 
to the production of roots ; and then, if a little damp moss is tied on, the roots will 
strike into it almost immediately, and will be fit for removal into single pots, in 
about a fortnight or three weeks. 
Statice macropJiylla — the large-leaved Statice, was introduced from the Canaries in 
VOL. XIV. NO. CLXVII. L L 
