1871 .] 
SWEET-SCENTED FLOWERS.-NO. V. 
125 
our Gardenias out in the open ground about the beginning of June, having pre¬ 
viously hardened off young plants which may have been growing in the propagating- 
house. I have planted them where shaded from the mid-day sun, and in the full 
sun, and although those in the latter position were not quite so green as the others 
in the height of summer, they regained their colour in autumn, and were the 
best rooted plants. 
If Gardenia flowers are required at Christmas, the plants must be taken up 
and potted, in good peat if obtainable, by the end of August. Put the plants 
into as small pots as possible ; water, syringe, and shade for a few days. After 
this, place them in a light warm house ; keep them tolerable dry, but syringe 
occasionally ; and by giving them a good brisk heat, the flowers will soon open. 
It is also necessary to have old woody plants for flowering very early, as they are 
less gross, and ripen earlier. 
The general stock of plants winter well in a Camellia-house, or in any other 
house from which the frost is just excluded; and from thence they may be brought, 
a few plants at a time, into heat, or allowed to flower naturally in the cold house. 
The Gardenia is much hardier than many people imagine. I have seen plants 
left out-of-doors during several frosts of more than a dozen degrees below freezing- 
point, with no apparent injury. 
Out of doors, and in cold houses, few insects trouble the plants ; but in the 
stove they are subject to the attacks of thrips, green-fly, scale, and bug; but it is 
an easy plant to clean. Perhaps some of the patent nostrums may be effectually 
used for that purpose, but I confess I have little more faith in those secret 
remedies than in Parr’s Pills. I will, however, give your readers a receipt for 
cleaning these, and also many other plants, of any or all the vermin I have 
mentioned. Dissolve whale-oil soap, an ounce to the gallon of water; then 
add about ten drops of kerosine to the gallon; put it in a tub or other vessel, 
in which to dip the plants; see that every part is touched with the mixture ; 
allow the plants to stand for an hour, and then syringe it off with clear 
water. The insects will be all killed, and the plants will look as if fresh 
varnished. This is best done on a dull, damp day; and if many plants 
have to be dipped, it may require a few more drops of the spirit added, for 
of course that floats on the water. I may add, as a caution, that gardeners had 
better mix the preparation themselves, for a careless use of it might sacrifice 
some valuable plants. We see occasionally a case of shocking death, occasioned 
by doctors allowing careless assistants to dispense dangerous drugs ; and in this 
case the ruin of valuable plants would be very likely to follow from trusting the 
4 young gardener of the period ’ to mix it. Indeed, I am not sure that many 
of these young gentlemen could be induced to put their hands into it after it 
was mixed. I write this advisedly, because I know there are such men, who 
cannot even be trusted to mix soap in water for cleaning, after receiving special 
instructions. In this country they would be kicked out at a moment’s notice.— 
James Taplin, South Amboy , New Jersey , U.S.A. 
