16 
CULTURAL HINTS ON SOME OF THE PLANTS 
their cut ends, provided the cutting be protected by covering it with a hand-glass, a 
flower-pot, or some other covering which will preserve the due moisture of the air 
around the plant, and thus preclude the necessity for a rapid absorption of liquid 
from the soil." 
These are truths familiarly known to practical gardeners, many of whom are so 
adroit in the manipulation, that a failure is almost the exception to general success. 
We once saw, at a nursery near Holloway, a pit or two full of very small Camellias 
closely packed without an apparent interval. Not one of them appeared to have 
more than three leaves, and the number was estimated at 10,000. The soil was 
an inch or two of moist silver sand over a foot of decaying tan. Every plant had a 
system of beautifully white roots, which, to judge from a few specimens raised up, 
were larger than parts above the surface. The process commenced in September, 
and we saw the plants in the August following. There is reason to suppose that, 
were we experimentally acquainted with the required mode of treatment, every 
individual plant could be propagated by cuttings. The production of granular matter 
called callus, from the " cambium " or the " vital membrane " of the late Mr. Main, 
appears to be the sine qua non ; and on this phenomenon rests the peculiar advantage 
of propagation by cuttings placed in a phial of water ; here the operator finds every 
opportunity to inspect and study the science of radification. He may not, perhaps, be 
enabled to detect the presence of those hidden agents which are stimulated by the vital 
principles ; but he certainly can observe the approaches of the first ring of granular 
matter between the wood and the bark, or of the more tender and green parts 
which represent those parts, and subsequently the advance of those protuberances 
which become the direct organs of absorption. Let Gloxinia be one of the first 
objects for experiments ; it will not fail to astonish and instruct. We hope to enlarge 
upon the subject in March. 
CULTURAL HINTS ON SOME OF THE PLANTS BELONGING 
TO THE GENUS STATICE.* 
Last December we concluded our hints with some remarks on Statice macro- 
phylla, and in returning to the subject, we may remark that the whole of the greenhouse 
species of this genus are very liable to be infested by and suffer much from attacks 
of insects of all kinds, among which the green-fly and thrips are not the least 
injurious. These, especially the first, may be removed by the usual method of 
fumigating with tobacco directly one insect can be discovered, and the same remedy 
will destroy the thrips, only the fumigation requires to be much stronger, and then 
there is a risk of injuring the tender foliage. To avoid the possibility of such an 
injury, it will be best when the plants are attacked by thrips to fumigate slightly on 
* Continued from p. 258, vol. xiv. 
