132 THE FLORIST AND 
PROPAGATION 
Is effected by slipping off a slioot or dividing the plant, wlien it may be 
done so as to secure roots attached, when but little difficulty will be expe- 
rienced, in getting them into active growth. 
If there are no roots, insert them in sand under a bell glass, in the stove. 
The best time for taking off the shoots or dividing the old plant, is, if grown 
in the stove, in March, in the greenhouse as soon as they are gone out of 
flower. When rooted pot off into three-inch pots, keeping the crown of the 
plants well up in the pot. As it is always desirable to secure a good flower- 
ing plant in as short a space of time as possible, compatible with the health 
of the plants, they may, with advantage, be kept in a close moist pit the 
first summer, and in the hothouse the first winter. While the plants keep 
growing, they should be encouraged by occasional shifts into larger pots, 
but once a good sized plant is formed, a shift once a year in May will be 
enough, with an occasional stirring of the top soil, and a little fresh added 
at the same time. The soil should be a sandy loam, as turfy as possible, 
pulled (not rubbed) to pieces, one-half; one-fourth silver sand, the remain- 
der small pieces of charcoal and crocks, which will help to keep the whole 
open and porous ; if the loam is at all stiff, a little sandy peat should be 
added. 
The pots should also be well and securely drained, with a little spagnum 
or other similar substance, placed over the crocks to keep the soil from 
amongst the drainage. In potting plants of this character, we find if a 
few pieces of charcoal, small stones, &c., are placed on the top of the soil, 
the roots, which are large and fleshy, are very fond of appearing on the 
surface and ramifying amongst the stones. We presume, from the fact that 
it tends to encourage a dampness, of which the roots seem particularly fond 
while growing. Tilgate, 
' , 1% 
