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PROPAGATION OF FLOWER-GARDEN PLANTS. 
employed, and these are favoured with all the aids of judicious cultivation. The 
plea urged against them, that they evince a common or a weedy appearance, will 
then he superseded through the improved aspect communicated hy disposal and 
management ; indeed, it is a generally recognised fact in the popular system of 
decorating the pleasure-grounds, that masses of many of the commonest flowers 
create the most showy effect. We allude now of course only to the extensive garden 
scene, and not to the limited flower-garden where an assemblage of all that is gay 
and beautiful, and individually interesting, is expected. 
The chief arguments in favour of a separate department for native species, are 
the unique appearance with which they invest such a spot, and the greater facility 
it affords for adopting any peculiarity of treatment. And let it be remembered, that 
in all cases groups or beds of the same plant prove more showy than a heterogeneous 
mixture of various kinds and colours : the latter have always a meagre and spotted 
appearance. And surely a garden with groups of every bright colour on the lawn, 
the rockery, and the lake, with all the usual adornments conferred by bushy shrubs 
and climbing species consisting entirely of the choice production of our fields and 
groves, cannot fail to elicit a share of pleasure and approbation proportioned to 
the care expended on it, even though the cherished beauties be the natural offspring 
of our own mother-land. 
PROPAGATION OF FLOWER-GARDEN PLANTS. 
The increase of the class of plants in question is so easily effected by cuttings, 
and almost at any time, that there are few who, from having some experience in 
raising such things, and finding it so easily accomplished, could be found to admit 
there is anything to learn upon the subject. Without staying to combat such a 
notion as this, we will proceed with our paper, which has for the foundation of its 
subject the fact, that, notwithstanding the facility with which any plants are propa- 
gated, there is an essential difference between doing so in a proper manner, and at 
a proper time, and the reverse practice. 
The kind of plants we have under consideration, are all the half-hardy and 
tender things which now occupy our flower-gardens in summer, and their increase as 
it is effected by cuttings. Some, instead of taking cuttings of many of those plants 
which, as they grow along the surface of the soil, strike roots into it from the joints 
and under-sides of their stems, take part of these stems, with their roots attached, 
and pot them ; but as such never form good plants, and as, indeed, it is only prac- 
tised where necessity compels a resort to it, no further remark in reference to doing 
so is called for here. The time for choosing cuttings, which, in the case of plants 
of ascertained value, and of which there is required annually a certain supply, and 
that should, instead of the period when they are taken being a matter of accident, and 
