January 3,1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
13 
of a great and wealthy empire that its noblest garden should be ma'n- 
tained in order at the expense of those employed to do it. 
“ A noisy barrack room ” “ A Boss ” thinks would be unsuitable to 
study. Undoubtedly it would, but who has proposed a “ barrack room ? ” 
The reading-room at present devoted to the purpose of study is amply 
sufficient, and the order which prevails there is the best example of how 
young gardeners can associate together with one object in view without 
indulging in horseplay and larking. At the room in question there is 
no one in authority to maintain order, though the young men take it 
in turn week about as clerk, whose duty consists in opening the room, 
admitting the men, and seeing that the books are all returned to their 
proper places each night. Yet with all this freedom the men show 
their goo’d sense and appreciation of the privilege accorded them by 
preserving the most exemplary order. Should any employd break the 
rules in this respect he would be reported to the Curator, and if the 
offence were repeated he would be in danger of being discharged. This 
is all the check imposed, but it is amply sufficient. 
The whole routine of duties and studies at Kew is an excellent 
training for any young man, and scores who now fill responsible 
positions look back with satisfaction on that part of their experience. 
Strict punctuality, civility, and attention to duties are enforced, and in 
addition all are-expected to take advantage of the opportunities afforded 
of extending their knowledge of plants and plant life by attending the 
reading-room frequently and the numerous courses of lectures, the notes 
taken at the latter having to be written out and submitted to the 
lecturers for approval and comment. The authorities are thus enabled 
to see at once whether the young men comply with their requirements. 
If they do not they spend their time at Kew to little purpose, for their 
testimonials will bear the record that they “ have not availed themselves 
of the opportunities afforded them.” 
Study is therefore in a measure compulsory, and it appears to me 
that the least which can be done is to assist in rendering it as little 
taxing to body and mind as possible. Convenient residence in the 
gardens near to their work, the lectures, and the reading-room, with 
better quality food, better cooked, and at a more moderate price, 
would be a most important assistance to the young men in every way. 
The primary cost would be small as a national work, and it could be 
subsequently made entirely self-supporting. 
The whole question turns upon two points : First, is the accom¬ 
modation advocated needed ? and secondly, is the scheme practicable ? 
The evidence already tendered has some bearing on the first, and if the 
men at present employed could proclaim their desires uninfluenced by 
the officials, nine-tenths, I am convinced, would be in favour of it. 
Those who would object to the few but beneficial restraints that would 
be necessarily imposed upon them are precisely those who would most 
need curbing. Presuming, therefore, that some improvement is requisite, 
the practicability of such a plan next demands consideration. What 
objection have the authorities at Kew or others to offer under this head ? 
—Yeritas. 
STEVIAS. 
In these days of single Dahlias and glaring giant Sunflowers we are 
apt to lose sight of many old garden friends, and plants cultivated with 
pride previous to the mania are either left to themselves or are lost to 
cultivation altogether. That general cultivators soon lose an interest in 
plants that require a little extra attention is very obvious from their 
scarcity in gardens. Among the neglected plants no prettier genus 
exists than Stevias, a small genus of Mexican plants nearly related to 
Eupatoriums, although of very superior horticultural value. In point 
of beauty and compact habit they compare very favourably with many 
of the Bouvardias, and could be easily utilised for the same purpose 
—viz., greenhouse decoration at Christmas. It is true that they will not 
stand over a severe winter unless in a very dry and sheltered situation, 
but an ordinary winter does them no perceptible harm, even without 
covering. 
The ordinary method of cultivation recommended is to grow them in 
large pots as specimen plants, plunge them out where desired in the 
spring, lifting them again in the autumn and wintering them in cool 
frames ; and to most gardeners, whose time is a matter of consideration, 
the plan recommended above is no doubt in many ways very objection¬ 
able, and the result, to them, barely worth the trouble. A much easier 
and more satisfactory method is to treat them as ordinary annuals, 
simply sowing the seeds, which they bear profusely in spring, and when 
large enough for handling prick them into small thumb pots or pans, as 
recommended for tender annuals, and from thence to the beds or borders 
about the latter end of April. 
Among the best for cultivating in this way are Stevia amabilis and 
S. Plummerm, both rose-coloured ; S. ovata and S. eupatoria both white. 
—D., Stirling. 
PROPAGATION BY CUTTINGS. 
In all private establishments a number of plants must of necessity 
be raised each year from cuttings, and this is undoubtedly one of the 
most important operations in gardening, yet it is very often carried 
out in a manner evidencing little knowledge of the work. So long 
as the cuttings strike it is considered satisfactory, no regard being 
had to the growth after striking, which in a great measure influences 
the plant, a healthy and vigorous plant rarely being the outcome of 
a weakly and indifferently rooted cutting. 
Softwooded plan's are usually those most operated with in 
gardens, and these are so readily increased by that means that little 
difficulty is experienced in keeping up the necessary stock for bedding- 
out or growing into specimens : yet it must have been proved to 
demonstration that a stout sturdy cutting taken off at the right time, 
neither too soft nor too hard, will be in a condition to emit roots 
freely and grow freely after it has become rooted, providing of course 
it receives ordinary care ; whilst a weakly cutting, which from its 
hard growth has the wood much more solidified, and as a result roots 
tardily, is a long time starting into growth. It is extremely difficult, 
however, to convey an idea as to the exact solidity of the wood 
cuttings should have when detached. Many plants are exceptional 
as to the state the wood should be in when the cuttings are taken. 
As a rule the cuttings of most softwooded plants are in proper 
condition when the wood is fully a quarter and not more than half 
ripe ; but much depends on the quickness the growths are made, as 
growths that are naturally made quickly will form roots from younger 
wood. For instance, cuttings of bedding Pelargoniums, Verbenas, 
Lobelias, Salvias, and Ageratums, which as stock plants are placed in 
heat in spring, will root more quickly than cuttings taken from outdoor 
plants in September, although the wood may then be apparently in 
the same condition as that of the cuttings from the heat-excited 
plants in spring, and the more succulent the cutting the less moisture 
it will need to insure its striking. It might be supposed that being 
softer it would need more moisture than a cutting w r ith the wood in 
a much firmer condition. The contrary is, however, fact. The soft 
cutting is more capable of taking up moisture by the softer condition 
of the wood inserted, and that above has its pores more open, and 
takes in moisture more quickly, hence a moderate degree of moisture 
is only needed for such cuttings. A soft cutting will also need less- 
shading than the firm, and as it will elaborate more quickly by its 
exposed surface an impetus will be given the descending current, and 
a callus with roots will be more quickly formed. The firm or hard 
cutting cannot withstand sun—it flags directly, and is soon beyond 
recovery. Its wood is hard, its pores are almost closed, _ and its 
channels narrow ; it cannot take up moisture by the part inserted, 
and its leaves are so mature as not to be much refreshed by moisture, 
in consequence of which it needs more shade, more moisture, is 
slower in rooting, and seldom makes a good plant. 
In propagating softwooded plants, Avhich are by far the greatest 
number propagated in gardens, the cuttings are usually taken from 
plants in a growing state, and as a result a check of the severest 
kind is or would be given were they not placed under conditions best 
calculated to induce the formation of roots. This is most generally 
sought to be effected in the shortest time by placing the cuttings in 
bottom heat, and which of course must be suitable to the temperature 
the plant requires to grow fh ; and this ought not to be more excessive 
than that the plant needs as a maximum, whilst the top heat should 
be very little if any higher than that the plant is grown in from 
which the cuttings are taken. Anything much beyond the maximum 
of heat the plant needs to grow in as bottom heat is very injurious, 
especially if it be accompanied by corresponding top heat, which 
induces top growth, whereas every means should be taken to reprers 
it, as growth in the cuttings without the formation of roots is most 
injurious. When roots are formed the cuttings will start into healthy 
growth, and need but a little hardening-off as compared with those 
struck in a much higher temperature, and as a consequence making 
much healthier and better-shaped specimens. 
Then success in cutting-striking also depends on preventing 
evaporation from the leaves and stems, so as to prevent flagging and 
exhaustion. This is effected by means of a glass covering—bell- 
glass or handlight, frame, or propagating house, or a frame within 
that or some other house which prevents the moisture evaporating. 
Upon this moisture depends very much the success of the work. If 
the atmosphere be too moist the cuttings will in all probability damp, 
and if too dry they will flag. Without entering into the question of 
leaves absorbing moisture, it will suffice for all practical purposes to 
state that it is absolutely essential that the cuttings do not flag under 
any but very powerful sun, for if they flag on a dull day it is obvious 
the atmosphere about the cuttings is too dry, or the soil in which they 
are inserted lacks the needful moisture. In the case of very soft 
cuttings a slight flagging for a few hours when the sun is very bright 
will not do any harm, as it will check the tendency to leaf-growth 
before roots are formed, but it must not be allowed to be so excessive 
as to cause the foliage to dry. This condition of the cuttings we 
often see in the propagation of bedding Pelargoniums out of doors. 
The cuttings flag by day and recover at night, and everybody knows 
the result is more satisfactory than if the weather prove dull and wet. 
I am convinced that a certain amount of evaporation from the leaves; 
or stems of the cuttings for a few hours each day is essential to a 
satisfactory result, and this, I think, takes place more or less under 
the influence of light, whether we admit air to accelerate evaporation 
or not, and there certainly is no harm in giving air providing it does 
