63 
1S75. ] THE ECONOMY OF LABOUR IN GARDENS. 
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without the slightest symptom of exhaustion, or the loss of a single leaf. They 
must be potted on as they require it, and in this way they produce, in a strong, 
healthy, dwarf form, those distinct characteristics of leaf-variegation which are 
so effective and desirable in decorative plants. Of course, the tops may be cut 
off and rooted as cuttings in separate pots, but I find that when so treated, strong 
gross tops are apt to lose a portion of their leaves, which detracts considerably 
from their effectiveness. This species grows freely in a compost formed of rich 
turfy loam and peat in about equal parts, adding sand and charcoal to insure 
porosity. It is important to drain the pots freely, as they require an abundance 
of water when growing, and they need syringing freely to keep under both thrips 
and red-spider, which would quickly mar the lustre of the foliage if allowed to 
become established upon it. Encourage the plants in a brisk heat when growing, 
and harden off by degrees for decorative purposes. They will stand exposure 
well. When well grown, I find this Drcicama one of the most unique and pleasing 
decorative plants that we possess. It is from the great facility with which this 
class of plants is generally grown, that minute items of cultural requirements, in 
the case of certain species, are overlooked.— George Westland, Withy Court. 
THE ECONOMY OF LABOUR IN GARDENS. 
ARt is truly astonishing to observe, in the course of one’s rambles, the disorder 
and slovenliness which occur in performing the most trifling matters, in 
Iff some establishments, from sheer lack of forethought, and not from the lack 
of sufficient strength or time to perform everything in a proper way, were 
the bump of Order but present. This lack of forethought in neglecting to lay 
down simple economical plans for performing all and every little operation, and 
in not seeing that it is duly performed, is the reason why we find some folks 
always behind, and always in a muddle. 
In many places I have observed, both indoors and out, that gardeners and 
their men, in the season of thinning the young shoots of Peaches, Nectarines, 
and other fruit-trees, or thinning and stopping the young shoots of Vines, 
whether they are infested with aphis or other insects or not, drop all the refuse 
on to the floor or borders, and tread it under-foot, leaving it, in fact, for some 
other person to clear away afterwards, and thus allowing the aphis an opportunity 
to hide away ready to make another attack. Instead of this, they should wear an 
apron or a nail-bag, to receive at once from the hand all such thinnings and refuse, 
which is thence to be conveyed into a box or basket, always provided and at hand for 
the purpose, and which, when full, should bo carried off to the stoke-hole fires, to the 
fire that is kept for heating the boiler of hot water for syringing, or furnishing 
tepid water for plant-watering, or to bo buried in a fermenting rubbish-heap, 
where hot lime is pretty frequently made use of. Thus the nuisance of the rub¬ 
bish being left under-foot is done away with, and the time of the person who has 
to come after and collect it, and which might be much more profitably employed, 
is saved. 
