1S70. ] 
SWEET-SCENTED FLOWERS.-NO. III. 
209 
being left to form tbe plant. What is called side-grafting, with the head of tho 
plant left on until the graft has taken, is the best, as then the head may be 
gradually reduced until the whole force of the plant is concentrated on the graft. 
Of course, plants that have been growing in heat must be kept in heat after they 
are grafted, giving them the protection of a hand-light in a warm pit or forcing- 
house until the swelling of the buds shows that the grafts have taken. Then 
gradually give air, until in the course of a week or ten days, the young plants, 
being properly hardened, may be exposed to the atmosphere of the house. 
Cuttings of the Daphne indica are best put in in the autumn, when the young 
wood is something more than half ripe. Small side branches of about one inch 
long, if they can be procured, form the best cuttings ; but if not, then larger pieces 
may be cut into portions of about an inch each. In preparing the cutting pot, 
let it be thoroughly well drained ; place over the drainage a layer of nice fibrous 
loam, made quite firm, and over that a thin layer of silver-sand. In this the 
cuttings may be inserted, not too thickly, and then covered with a bell-glass. 
Keep the cutting pots in a cool, close propagating pit or frame for a month or 
six weeks, by which time they should be nicely cicatrised; and if they are then 
placed in a gentle heat, roots will be immediately formed. It will not, however, 
be wise to pot the cuttings off until after Christmas, and then, if placed in a close 
and gentle heat, they will immediately start into vigorous growth. 
The secret of growing this charming plant—and it is the only secret in its 
management—is the fact that it abhors composts and nostrums. Give it good 
unctuous loam full of fibre, and it will grow like a willow; nurse it with peat, 
leaf-mould, manure, (fee., and, like other over-petted things, it will not grow at all. 
This may be considered the reason why ill-grown plants are the rule, and well- 
grown plants the exception. Take a nicely grown plant with three or four 
branches in early spring. Place it in a temperature of from 50° to 60° ; in a 
fortnight or three weeks it will show indications of growth. Then pick out the 
point of each shoot, which will cause duplicate branches to be produced, so that 
you may have eight or twelve of these. When the young branches are about 
half an inch long, the roots may be examined, and, if in a fit state, the plant may 
be shifted into a larger pot. In doing this, take care that the pot is properly 
drained ; use the fibrous turf before mentioned, pot quite firm, and keep the 
plants somewhat close until the roots have taken to the fresh soil. The Dajdme^ 
in its growing season, delights in a moist, moderately warm atmosphere, and a 
free circulation of air. If a growth of 4 in. to 6 in. in length can be got by the 
middle of June, then the shoots may be again stopped, and a second growth 
encouraged. This will add to the compactness of the specimen, but its blooming 
will not be so certain as if the first growth had been allowed to mature itself. 
The blooming of this plant depends entirely upon the thorough maturation of 
the wood, and to that end it is better to rest satisfied with an early growth, 
rather than, by forcing a second, to lose the chance of bloom. To ensure their 
