112 remarks ON THE CULTURE OF A FEW ORNAMENTAL PLANTS. ^ 
from cuttings in a few years by growing them through the summer in pits. Eitli 
the young shoots taken off in spring as soon as they have acquired a little firmneij 
or the fully matured wood in autumn, strike root with tolerable readiness. If( 
is intended to employ the former, the plants from which they are to be taki 
should be early put into an extra warmth, in order to elongate the shoots ; su . 
cuttings soon take root with bottom heat. Ripened wood requires more time to foil 
roots, and should be planted in a cooler spot in autumn : the first is the m(,i 
certain and least troublesome method. 
The genus Hardenhergia contains species which are decidedly amongst tii 
finest of all our rambling greenhouse plants when well cultivated. Like ma^ 
others, however, they are often more than half deprived of their beauty throul 
untasteful capricious ways of pruning and training. They are mostly fasteiil 
under the rafters of houses ; and if the shoots are allowed plenty of liberty, sii 
species as H. monophglla^ lilacina^ digitata^ and macrophglla^ make a magnific(jli 
appearance whilst they are in bloom. i 
One of the most appropriate plans of cultivating these plants, however, lifc 
one rarely practised, is to turn them into the border of a conservatory, amongsji 
rough peat and loam, where they will be encouraged to make fresh growis 
rapidly. Then insert beside each a stout post or pole, eight or ten feet high, 
conduct the shoots round it until they reach the top, when they may be allovli 
to hang down, and interwreath one with another. In this way they will sm 
form a graceful pillar of shoots, two or three feet in diameter, and completjjr 
concealing the pole from the base to the summit. Nothing can be more elegail; 
and the amazing profusion of blossoms in spring and summer render such pla's 
more than ordinarily attractive. They will require to be cut back in autumn, b 
order that they may send out a fresh supply of vigorous flowering shoots ; Id 
throughout the summer months they will occasionally need a little trimming \sijli 
the knife, to keep them from spreading too far, or becoming untidy. Some ii|e 
examples of this kind may be seen at the garden of the Horticultural Soci(f) 
Chiswick, in the large conservatory. ;| 
All who are in the habit of visiting the great metropolitan exhibitions mjst 
have been struck with the magnificence of the noble specimens of Clerodendik!^ 
squamatum, and two or three other species equally gorgeous. Before offering liiy 
remarks on the plans of culture resorted to for their production, we must prerjse 
that there is perhaps as much due to assiduous superintendence and untiijig 
exertions as to any peculiarity of system. It is true, that in the rearing of s6e 
of these plants, all the aids have been employed that can be supplied by vp- 
constructed houses, great extent of accommodation, and improved modes of heatig, 
ventilating, &c. ; but it is enough, at the same time, to know that many scanty 
inferior specimens have been grown by cultivators, who have had numerous jid 
disheartening difiiculties to contend with : in fact, nothing short of an enthusislk 
love of flowers could have set these at defiance. Necessity is truly styled be 
