248 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGHST. 
[ November, 
and dessert:— Ironmonger^ hairy red ; Red Warrington^ hairy red ; Whitesmith^ 
downy white ; Green Walnut^ smooth green ; Red Champagne^ hairy red; Yellow 
Champagne^ hairy yellow; RocJcwood^ hairy yellow; Heart of Oak^ smooth green. 
Some amateurs may desire to cultivate the large Lancashire varieties. These 
will require to have the fruit very severely thinned, but in other respects the 
treatment is identical. The following are eligible sorts :— London^ smooth red; 
Conquering Hero^ smooth red ; Freedom^ smooth white ; Queen of Trumps^ smooth 
white ; Leader^ smooth yellow ; Catherina^ hairy yellow ; Thumper^ smooth green; 
General^ smooth green.— John Cox, Redleaf 
CULTUKE OF THE OLEANDER. 
S HE Nerium Oleander splendens and its allies are undoubtedly very magnifi¬ 
cent objects when well grown and full of flower, and yet how seldom are 
f they seen in a luxuriant condition, or even seen at all in any shape, except 
in very few gardens! In France, as well as in other countries, they are 
grown in large numbers, and in great perfection, not only in large tubs to a great 
size, as we find them at Versailles and at other places, but in a small and port¬ 
able shape—quite little plants, a foot or fifteen inches high or so, covered with 
flowers. Of course in such a small state the flowers are not so large as when 
grown in a planted-out manner, or cultivated in large pots; nevertheless they are 
very handsome, and they last a long while in bloom in healthy rooms or bal¬ 
conies, provided care in watering with nice tepid water, and washing overhead 
occasionally, be persevered in. The Oleander, like every other plant, compara¬ 
tively speaking, is easily grown and flowered when one knows how; but many 
know how to do a thing, and many more know how not to do it. Therefore a 
few curt instructions to those who do not know may be acceptable. 
The propagation of this very showy plant may be effected in this wise. At 
this season (September), when growth is matured, select cuttings 8 in. or 
10 in. in length ; insert each in a small bottle of water, with a pinch of wood- 
charcoal in each bottle, and place the bottles in a warm house, such as a plant- 
stove, or any other place, where the heat is not less than 60° or 70°. In a 
month or six weeks these will be rooted, when they may be potted in as small 
pots as possible, without injuring the roots, using loam and river-sand in equal 
proportions ; but they do not seem particular as to soil, provided it is whole¬ 
some, and the pots are well-drained. If kept in a warmish place, with moisture in 
the atmosphere, they soon get established in their second progressive state. In 
early spring, as the days lengthen and growth commences, give them more mois¬ 
ture and heat, and towards April they may be shifted into a size-larger pot. By 
no means give them too large a shift. A lively heat and an abundance of mois¬ 
ture will be all they need till they show signs of flowering, which they will do 
about August. The admission of plenty of air, and partially withholding water for 
a month at this period (September), will be a rest to them; they may then be put 
into a warm moist heat as before, and their flowers will open in abundance in 
