January 24, 1884, ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
69 
alike if a span, and if a lean-to the back to be a foot to 15 inches 
deep ; or if a span roof. 1 foot to 15 inches at the ridge. This 
difference in height will admit of different sizes of cuttings. Inch 
red deal is a proper material for the sides and ends, and should be 
given a coat or two of creosote to preserve it from decay and fungi. 
The lights need not be thicker than 14 inch, as little woodwork 
being used as possible ; only sufficient must be employed to insure 
stability. The glass should be 21 oz. sheet thirds. Cuttings require 
shade, of course, but it can be given when the sun is bright, and 
when that is not the case the more light the cuttings have the better. 
The lights are best hung on hinges or butts (brass being the best and 
cheapest in the end) either at the back or at the ridge, as the case 
may be, lean-to or span, which will readily allow of inspection of the 
cuttings. Means for regulating the ventilation are unnecessary, 
except such as can be readily improvised by the propagator—small 
pieces of board cut into small serratures, so as to form notches, are 
as good as anything. This thing being completed—I have been 
somewhat explicit, so that anyone with a little ingenuity may easily 
be their own carpenter, glazier, painter, and mason—we have only to 
provide the plunging material. 
There is no question that a non-conducting, porous, moisture¬ 
holding, and slow-decomposing material is far the best Peat or 
loam, as might be the staple required for growing the plants, with a 
large admixture of silver sand, was considered the best material for 
cuttings ; but this is exploded. Experience has proved that what is 
also the best plunging material is also the most efficacious os a root- 
producer. The best plunging material and for rooting cutlings in is 
cocoa-nut fibre refuse. This is one of the many good hints for which 
we are indebted to Donald Beaton, and which I tried over twenty 
years ago. Its extensive use speaks volumes as to its value. The 
next best material is unquestionably sawdust, first brought to public 
notice by Mr. David Thomson in these pages. Either of these materials 
put in the frame 4 inches deep answers as a plunging material if it be 
considered advisable to have the cuttings inserted in pots, which is 
quite unnecessary for nine-tenths of the cuttings an amateur usually 
propagates, or greenhouse plants generally, as the cuttings inserted 
in the material will root quite as well—nay, better—and they can 
readily be lifted and potted. It must be observed that neither of the 
materials is intended to be put forward as the best for growing 
plants, hence those that do not care about potting-off can insert the 
cuttings singly in thumbs in the soil the plants would require when 
growing, with about twice as much sand as would ordinarily be 
employed. 
If the plunging or inserting material be in a proper condition as 
to moisture, a gentle sprinkling will be all the water required. 
The frame can be kept close until the cuttings start into growth, if 
they are of a description that root quickly, or if there be too much 
moisture it can be liberated by a little ventilation ; but it is far better 
to wipe the glass every morning than to admit air to dispel it, 
particularly in the daytime, when the exhausting process consequent 
on evaporation is at its height. A little at night is far better, 
especially if the plants have required water to insure their keeping 
fresh. Shade should only be given to prevent flagging, and will 
need to be more particularly attended to when the cuttings are 
inserted, or rather for a short time afterwards, than when they have 
been inserted some time. When the cuttings have rooted ventilation 
should be given, so as to gradually harden them, and having grown 
to the extent of a couple of inches their tops may be taken off and 
inserted as cuttings. The removal of the tops of the first lot of cuttings 
will cause them to branch, and, what is of more consequence, better 
enable them to bear the potting process. If potted when the tops are 
removed return them to the propagating frame, where they will 
sooner become established, and when started into growth again place 
them in a not-too-airy position of the house for a few days. 
Those having a house divided into two compartments, one a 
greenhouse and the other a stove, can propagate the latter plants 
in a frame similar to that described for propagating greenhouse 
plants ; indeed most plants will strike in a frame placed in a house in 
which the plants are growing, but the process will, though slower, be 
quite as sure as if bottom heat were employed, which, it may be 
observed, only facilitates the process. 
But what is the amateur to do who has none of the above means 
of propagating plants, having only means of wintering plants in a 
cold frame or in the windows of his dwelling? There is no means 
for it in such a case than to fall back on the immemorial hotbed. 
It is a homely method, and with care and attention much can be 
accomplished. 
The materials of the hotbed being collected, say some tree leaves 
and fresh stable litter with its droppings—three parts of the former 
and one of the latter—these must, be well shaken together, moistened 
if dry, and thrown into aheap. When the materials are at a good heat, 
or in about a week, it should be again turned, outside to inside, again 
damped in the turning if there be any dryness, and with another 
turning and after laying a week it will have parted with any rank 
steam and the heat have diffused itself through the mas3. Then it 
can be made up into a bed to suit the frame, but extending 15 inches 
beyond it every way. A bed about 3 feet high will be sufficiently 
high, made up at the end of February', for commencing propagation 
early in March. The frame can be placed on. In a week the heat 
will be up, level any inequalities, replace the frame and put in 6 inches 
depth of cocoa-nut fibre refuse or sawdust. Into this the pots can be 
inserted about two-thirds of their depth, and with needful care in 
preventing damp or its opposite, extreme dryness, and shading from 
sun, with the needful air to expel an excess of moisture or foul exha¬ 
lations, success can be insured. By the time the cuttings have rooted 
the bed will be cooled and the hardening process perfected by ven¬ 
tilation. A frame of this kind serves many useful purposes besides 
raising cuttings—viz., one of the best being a stock of plants from 
seed.— G. Abbey. 
(To be continued.) 
NOTEWORTHY PLANTS. 
The “ Botanical Magazine ” for the present month contains portraits 
of the following plants :— 
Decaisnea insignia (plate 6731).—A shrub from the Eastern Hima¬ 
layas, found at an elevation of from 7000 to 8000 feet. In habit it 
much resembles a miniature Ash, with leaves borne on stalks in opposite 
pairs. The flowers are inconspicuous, but the ripe carpels are of a- 
beautiful golden yellow and very attractive. With a little care at first 
this plant might possibly stand our winters. It is undoubtedly an 
acquisition. 
Primula, prolifera (plate 6732), probably better known under the 
name of P. imperialis, is an introduction of great value to hardy plant 
growers. Found at an elevation of from 4000 to 16,000 feet it is well 
qualified to withstand all the variations of our English climate. The 
leaves are exactly like those of P. japonica ; and the flowers, which are 
large bright sulphur-yellow, are borne in whorls of a dozen at intervals 
on the flower stem. It was introduced by Anderson Henry, Esq., Edin¬ 
burgh, in whose hands is the stock, which we hope will soon be dis¬ 
tributed among his friends. 
Loins Peliorhynchns (plate 6733).—A remarkable plant from the 
Canary Islands. It has hitherto been exceedingly rare, but seeds have 
been obtained at Kew, and will soon be distributed. The flowers are 
very bright scarlet, borne in clusters towards the ends of the shoots,, 
very branching, with narrow Galium-like leaves in whorls. A real 
acquisition amongst greenhouse plants. 
Morina Coulteriana (plate 6734).—Although from a garden stand¬ 
point not to be compared to the old popular M. longifolia, its small, 
yellow, curious curved flowers make it a desirable plant where variety i3 
in demand. The habit is much the same as M. longifolia, with narrower 
spiny leaves. 
Phacelia campanularia (plate 6735).—A hardy annual, nearly allied 
to the much-admired Phacelia grandiflora. The flowers are scarcely so 
large, but of a much more intense blue, even rivalling our best Gentians- 
They are also very numerous and attractive. 
ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
The annual general meeting of this Society was held on Wednesday 
evening the 16th inst., at 25, Great George Street, Mr. J. K. Laughton,. 
F.R.A.S., President, in the chair. 
The Secretary read the report of the Council, which showed that.the past 
few months mark a very important epoch in the history of the Society. In 
October the Council received the intimation that Her Majesty had been 
graciously pleased to grant the Society permission to assume the prefix: 
“ Royal.” In consequence the Society has become and will henceforth be 
called the Royal Meteorological Society. In December the Fellows made 
certain alterations in the byelaws, by which the annual subscription has- 
been increased. The report also showed that the Society is doing a great 
deal of practical work, not only by holding meetings and publishing the 
papers read at the same, but also by the establishment of a large number of 
observing stations, which are regularly inspected, so that the results obtained 
from them may be strictly uniform and comparable. The number of Fellows 
is 549, and of honorary members nineteen, thus making a total of 568. 
The President then delivered his address, in which he referred to the- 
experiments made by Mr. Saxon Snell, Mr. Bertram, and Mr. Hele Shaw r 
with the object of determining the coefficients of Biram’s anemometers. As 
yet these can scarcely be considered quite satisfactory, for though made with 
the utmost care they give results differing from each other by nearly 25 per¬ 
cent., and from the known truth in opposite directions. The reduction of 
barometric readings to sea level is another problem of great interest and 
importance, the solution of which is far from perfect, and as applied to the 
converse determination of altitudes has been pronounced by Mr. Gilbert of 
the U.S. Geological Survey to be beset with difficulties “ so numerous and so- 
baffling, that there is no reason to hope that they will ever be_ fully over¬ 
come.” In many cases, too, the reduction, even if correct, implies an accu¬ 
mulation of air in places where no air exists ; and isobars so drawn travers¬ 
ing mighty mountain ranges such as the Rocky Mountains or the Himalayas, 
or elevated plateaus such as those of central or eastern Asia, convey an im¬ 
pression which may easily lead to serious mistakes. The great achievement 
of the year is unquestionably the gathering-in of the observations taken by 
international agreement at nine arctic stations, in which amidst circumstances 
of more or less discomfort parties continued through a full period of twelve 
months. With one station established by the United States on the shores of 
Lady Franklin Bay it has been found impossible to communicate. This was 
established in the summer of 1881, and no trustworthy news has since been 
