January 29, 18H. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
95 
TPIE FLOWER GARDEN. 
Proj)agatin(]. —When the stock of Heliotropes, Ageratums, Verbenas, 
xresines, and Coleuses is comparatively small there is all the more 
necessity for commencing early with their propagation by cuttings. 
Soft young shoots, such as will soon be formed by the old plants, when 
these are subjected to a moderately brisk heat and rather moist atmo¬ 
sphere, strike the most readily and are always to be preferred. If a 
close frame over a heated tank or hot-water pipes is available a good 
depth of either sawdust or cocoa-nut fibre should be placed in this. 
Kept well moistened this plunging material will conduct the heat 
properly, but if allowed to become dry it will fail to do so. Dibble in 
the cuttings rather thinly in either pans or well drained pots filled with 
moderately rich sandy compost. Keep them close, wipe the glass of 
frame dry every morning, and water whenever the soil approaches 
dryness. Cuttings thus treated strike c^uickl}’-, and having good soil to 
root in soon grow strongly, first the tops and then side shoots being in 
their turn available for making into cuttings. 
Other Methods of Propagating. —All the kinds of plants named will 
strike surely and quickly if the cuttings are inserted somewhat thickly 
in water-tight pans filled with sand and water, and then set either on 
the hot-water pipes or in some other very hot position. They must be 
very closely attended to, as should the sand once be allowed to become 
dry this would prove fatal to the cuttings. When the roots are about 
2 inches long the plants ought to be potted or boxed off, using rather 
light well warmed compost for the purpose, the plants being kept 
growing in brisk heat. Hotbeds of leaves and manure, or either alone, 
are of good service for propagating purposes, frames or bottomless boxes 
with glass coverings being set on these and filled with cuttings in pans 
or pots. If there is much steam in the beds it will be necessary to leave 
a chink of air on the frames for a time, and later on when they may safely 
be kept closer to dry the glasses every morning. Cuttings generally to be 
carefully shaded from bright sunshine and never allowed to become dry. 
Ahntilons, —Variegated, notably A. Thompson! and improved forms 
of the same, are very effective bedding plants, and a fairly large stock, 
or enough to dot over a good sized bed, among a groundwork of dwarf 
flowering or fine-foliaged plants, could be propagated from one strong 
plant. Place this in heat and take off the top, rooting this if possible. 
Then, according as the side shoots attain a length of about i inches, 
take these off with a heel of old wood attached, and root them in a 
brisk bottom heat. Pot them singly, and shift the most forward into 
5-inch or rather larger pots. 
Cannas from Seed. —In order to have strong plants by bedding out 
time seed must be sown early. W^hen received they will be found 
exceedingly hard, and unless softened prior to sowing germination will 
either not take place or be very slow. Soak the seeds for twenty- 
four hours, or till they have swollen considerably, in a jar of water 
either plunged in a strong bottom heat or set on the hot-w’ater pipes. 
If in the latter position see that the water does not all evaporate and 
leave the seeds dry, or they will be spoilt. Fill the jar with more 
hot water when left the last thing at night. When the seeds have 
softened somewhat transfer them to pans or pots of warm peaty soil, 
and plunge in a strong bottom heat till they have germinated. Before 
the seedlings are far advanced pot off singly, using rich soil and I-inch 
or rather larger pots, and keep them growing in heat. The beautiful 
Crozy’s hybrids being very superior flowering forms of Cannas are 
raised in the same way, and would flower by the middle of July. 
Acacia lojAiantha. —This also is of good service in the flower garden, 
either for dotting or mixed beds of flowering or fine-foliaged plants. 
Plants obtained from seed last season and kept in pots would be suitable 
for the larger beds this season, but are quite useless for propagating 
purposes, and more seed must perforce be sown. The seeds are large 
and very hard, and must be treated exactly as recommended in the case 
of Cannas. It is possible to have neat plants in 5-inch pots by the first 
week in June, but not if the seedlings are checked in any way. Pot 
them early, and keep them steadily growing in a warm greenhouse. 
Grevillea rohusta. —Another somewhat slow growing green-foliaged 
plant, and which is frequently used in the flower garden. It is proga- 
gated from seeds, these being large, flat, and fairly soft. Sow at once 
in a pan of light or peaty soil, plunge in a hotbed or place in some 
other warm position, give a watering, and cover with a square of glass. 
The seedlings to be first potted placed singly into 2i-inch pots, and then 
shifted into 5-inch pots. Kept steadily growing they ought, by bedding 
out time, to be 9 inches high. 
Tuierous Begonias. —The seed of these ought to be sown early or 
not later than January, for the twofold reason that it germinates more 
surely if sown before the sun gains much power, and also because early 
germination gives a longer period for the plants to attain a serviceable 
size by bedding out time. The single varieties are more effective in 
beds than the doubles, while the erect flowering forms of the former are 
much the most showy ; but the drooping varieties are very suitable for 
vases and hanging baskets. More than ordinary pains ought to be 
taken in sowing this very minute seed, or the chances are a failure to 
germinate will occur. Either good sized pots heavily drained or pans 
may be used, these being firmly filled with fine peaty soil, the surface 
being quite le vel. Water through a fine-rose pot, and in the course of 
a few hours sow the seed evenly on the surface. Do not cover it in any 
way, not even with silver sand, this doing more harm than good ; but 
plunge the pans or pots in a hotbed where there are no worms, nothing 
being better than sawdust on a bed of leaves and manure. Cover the 
pans or pots closely with a square of glass land shade heavily. There 
being plenty of moisture in the plunging material there ought to be no 
necessity for moistening the soil in the pans or pots till after the tiny 
plants are to be seen. At the same time it must be closely watched, 
and if approaching dryness be moistened upwards by partial plunging 
in a tank or pail of warm water, overhead watering being fatal a& 
it disturbs the germinating seeds ; much less shade to be given after 
germination has taken place, and the seedlings ought to be pricked off in 
good light compost as soon as they can be moved with the point of a labeL 
Dwarf Lobelias. —Excellent strains of bedding varieties can now be 
purchased, this doing away with the necessity for taking so much 
trouble in propagating either by division or cuttings. If the seed is. 
sown and otherwise treated much as advised in the case of Tuberous 
Begonias, thousands of plants will soon be fit for pricking off into boxes 
and pans. Avoid sovidng too thickly, crowded seedlings being liable to- 
damp off wholesale. 
PLANT HOUSES. 
Adiaoitum cuneatum. —Young plants that were potted some time ago 
and are rooting freely should be placed in a temperature of 60° ; they 
will soon yield useful fronds for cutting. Introduce those that have- 
been resting for some time into a temperature of 5° higher, syringe 
amongst the pots, and keep the soil rather moist at the roots. If they 
have been troubled with slugs dust the crowns liberally with soot, which 
will soon bring these pests out of their hkling places. If the plants- 
have filled their pots with roots and it is not desirable to increase their 
size cut the plants in two, and pot the divisions without disturbing the- 
balls further, except for the removal of the old drainage from the base. 
Use as a compost fibry loam two parts, the other two being composed of 
leaf mould, sand, and old lime rubbish. Supply water carefully until 
the plants are rooting and growing freely. Place them in the tempera¬ 
ture advised above. Plants from which all the best fronds have been 
removed must be trimmed and placed for a time in a temperature of 50° 
to rest. Young-growing well-rooted plants in thumb pots should be 
placed into 3-inch pots. Seedlings in boxes may be potted singly into 
thumbs. To prevent these drying unduly plunge the pots in cocoa-nut 
fibre refuse, ashes, or other material in boxes or on the stage. 
Isolejns gracilis. —Some of these that have been in use during the 
autumn and winter wdll begin to be shabby. Seleet the worst, and 
divide them into two, three, or four pieces according to their size, and' 
pot them into GO’s. Place them in a vinery or Peaeh house, where the 
temperature ranges about 50° to 55°. They will grow freely, and soon 
be ready for decorative purposes. Isolepis that have their pots full of 
roots will improve if artificial manure is applied occasionally. 
Pteris serrulata. —If these are in small pots they may be placed into 
others 2 inches larger ; if in sizes as large as are required carefully 
reduce the roots, and repot into the same size. These plants, as well as 
seedlings, grow freely in vineries and Peach houses that are just started. 
It is wise to raise annually a good number of seedlings to take the places 
of any that are damaged. When a good stock of young Ferns is raised 
there is no necessity to reduce those which have filled their pots with 
roots and been injured by room and other forms of decoration. 
Microlepia liirta cristata. —Microlepias in 5 and G-inch pots which 
have been damaged in rooms may be divided and placed into small pots.. 
They will soon begin to grow in heat, and if repotted will make useful 
plants in 5 and 6-inch pots by next autumn. Where plants of a larger 
size are needed place some of the plants in 7 or 8-inch pots. Pots from 
I to 8 inches in diameter are more useful than those of larger size. This- 
Fern does well in three parts loam to one of leaf mould and sand. 
Polysticlmm prolifertm. —A very useful Fern, especially in small 
pots. It grows freely in- old soil from Cucumber and Melon beds if 
leaf mould is incorporated. The plants soon commenee producing new 
fronds if placed in a temperature of 50°. Established plants that had 
their fronds pegged down in August or September will have abundance- 
of young ones attached to them that are well rooted. Transplant these 
singly in boxes, and place them in a vinery ; they will soon grow 
sufficiently to be ready for small pots. 
Davallia Mooreana, —This Fern succeeds well in baskets, and the- 
specimens are beautiful when I or 5 feet in diameter. Plants are 
useful, however, in 5 and G-inch pots for room decoration and furnish¬ 
ing purposes generally. From large plants in pots or baskets a good 
stock of young plants may quickly be raised by thinning the rhizomes 
and placing two or three pieces into each pot. 
Cyperus distans. —Seedlings raised as directed some time ago may 
produce a small flower spike from the centre. They frequently do this 
in small pots when growing through the winter ; remove the spike and 
place the plants into larger pots. Seed may be sown at once on the 
surfaee of the soil in pans, well water them, and cover with a square of 
glass. Place the pans in heat. Plants that are doing duty now may,, 
when past their best, be cut over ; they will soon grow again from the 
base and flower. These are not only useful in pots, but their heads are 
invaluable for cutting, and can be used effectively in large and moderate 
sized vases with flowers. 
APIARIAN NOTES. 
Bees Flying and Covehings. 
Our neighbours’ bees flew well on January 11th, 12th, and 13th, 
but our own flew partly only on the 13th. The cause of some 
