THE MANUAL OP GARDENING. 
95 
perhaps, most successfully, in September. Layering 1 Heartsease 
is best performed when the earth is moist enough to have some 
adhesiveness, but is not wet enough to soil the leaves. The earth 
should be removed all round the plant, when the shoots should 
be laid down in the hollow, and covered with rich compost. If 
the annual sorts are covered with a small hand-glass, it will 
sometimes make them throw out roots readily ; but the perennial 
sorts do not require this. Cuttings are best struck in the middle 
of autumn, if the weather be moist, which it must be if this ope- 
ration be performed with success. The shoots chosen for cut- 
tings must be healthy and young ; for those which are woody or 
hollow will either not strike, or produce only unhealthy plants. 
The cuttings must not have more than four joints, and be cut 
off close to a joint, as all that is left below the joint is sure to 
rot, and destroy the whole cutting. Choose a well-shaded and 
moist situation, but not under the drip of trees. If the spot is 
exposed to the sun, the cuttings must be shaded with some 
slight covering. The soil may advantageously be watered with 
a fine rose watering-pot some hours before planting. When the 
cuttings are planted, not more than an inch should be left above 
the soil, and the earth must be pressed firmly round the joint at 
the bottom of the cutting, for on this much of the success of the 
operation depends. A slight sprinkling of water may then be 
given, but not so much as to unsettle the root. The cuttings 
will require shading more particularly than watering; but not so 
as to exclude the light and air, or they will blanch and die off 
After the first fortnight take off the glass, mat, or other covering 
at night, and replace it at nine in the morning, or before the 
sun reaches them strongly. W 7 hen the cuttings begin to grow, 
pinch off the tops, which will assist their striking, and render 
them bushy. When the plants are sufficiently strong, all autho- 
rities agree in recommending frequent transplanting; but it must 
be done in cloudy weather, and when rain may be safely antici- 
pated. Beds may be planted in March and April for summer 
blowing, with cuttings which were struck the precedingautumn. 
Wash the roots, and insert them two or three inches deep into 
the soil, watering them well afterwards. Other beds may be 
planted out in September, October and November, which plants 
will flower in the spring. The best situation for a bed of 
Heartsease is a spot which has the morning sun till about ten 
o’clock, or the afternoon sun after three. When Heartsease 
are kept in pots, as may readily be done, if a rich loamy compost 
is used, the plant may be trained by a single stem to a small 
trellis, when it will attain a foot or more in height. The tops 
may be pinched off when they rise too high, which will make 
them branch out. They must be kept constantly watered, never 
