198 THE FLORIST AND 
The Begonia is a very rapid grower, under good treatment, and requires 
liberal potting to succeed. These cuttings will require two shifts the first 
season, the last being into a 7-inch pot. This should not be done after 
midsummer, and they should occupy the stove where there is one, till a fort- 
night after the last shift, when they will be better if turned into the green- 
house. As soon as a yellowness begins to show itself, water should be gra- 
dually withheld, and when the flowering is over, set away under the stage 
on its side, for the winter. In the beginning of March, if there is a stove, 
cut back the decayed shoots and place the plants on the front shelf, to start 
into growth. When nicely started, take away some of the old soil, and re- 
pot into the same or a size larger pot, and as the growth proceeds, water 
more liberally. When fairly at work, repot into three sizes larger pots, 
using good drainage to prevent the soil from becoming sour. When grown 
four or six inches, procure some small sticks and pegs, and spread out the 
shoots as wide as possible ; they will soon fill up, and form nice plants. By 
the first of June, these old plants may be transferred to the greenhouse, 
kept cool and shaded, by frequent syringing and wetting the floor of the 
house, and canvass awnings, to keep ofi" the burning rays of the sun. The 
plant will bear cutting freely for cut flowers. 
The soil may be turfy loam, leaf mould, and peat, equal parts, with one- 
fourth of white or river sand. 
When well done it makes a very pretty summer exhibition plant. 
TiLGATE. 
A WORD FOR AN INJURED TREE. 
In Australia it is, or was the custom, when a criminal was about to be 
executed, to invite any person in the crowd in attendance, to speak a good 
word for the doomed man, if they knew of any good action he had done 
in his time. Bad indeed was he of whom no good could be related, and seldom 
was it that the privilege was not assumed by some friend or other. I take 
pleasure in recalling this to mind, because it affords a good precedent for my 
course on the present occasion, for I appear now as the friend of another 
criminal in the arboricultural line ; not by invitation, to be sure, but I trust 
not the less legally. My friend is doomed. His fate is sealed. From New 
York to Washington he is dragged into public disgrace, and every literary 
cur through the country follows in the trail, barking out its " Down with 
him, down with him." So great is the existing feeling, that I dare not yet 
