328 
THE FLORIST. 
will not mind this; and it gives him an opportunity of examining 
his plants as to other matters, and perhaps detecting a flaw which 
undiscovered would have been fatal. 
“You have said nothing about liquid manure?” No; and I 
question very much its desirableness. That it stimulates the plants 
there can be no doubt, and as little that it increases the size of the 
flowers ; but I think also that it often generates (by the very luxuriant¬ 
ness of the growth) disease, and that the secret of many a death has 
been an overdose of XX. Besides, the beauty of an Auricula is the 
refinement of the whole plant; and immense lappy leaves and large 
staring flowers effectually spoil that. I think that too much attention 
is given in many florists’ flowers to size, and shape and beauty of 
colouring put out of sight. 
“ And what about watering ?” says a third. A most material point. 
You must not starve the plants in winter, and yet no plant suffers 
sooner from damp. You will be the best judge yourself of the fre¬ 
quency of watering; but be careful to have soft water—either rain or 
else spring water which has been exposed to the influence of the sun. 
All pot plants suffer from bad water as much as we do, and therefore 
be careful on this point. 
I think I have answered all questions which have been put to me, 
and I hope the fact of their having been put may be taken as a proof that 
this most beautiful of florists’ flowers is coming rapidly into favour. 
Deal, Oct. 15. U. 
STRAWBERRIES FROM CUTTINGS. 
A correspondent writes us that the dry weather in June having 
prevented his Strawberries from forming any runners, he took all his 
forced plants, shook them out of their pots, and divided the crowns, 
making two and sometimes three cuttings from one old plant. The 
roots were pruned away, and the old leaves also, and each cutting was 
put into a small 60 pot, in leaf soil and loam, placed in a frame, 
and kept close for a week; they soon commenced to grow, when more 
air was given, and in three weeks time were fully exposed, having then 
filled the pots with young roots, when they were potted in fruiting pots 
in the usual way, and are now fine strong “stuff,” in no way inferior to 
plants from layers. Some of the kinds, as Keens’ Seedling and Alice 
Maud, threw np blooms, which were removed, with the runners thrown 
out, as soon as perceived. 
We have no doubt that where there is a difficulty in procuring 
the requisite supply of Strawberry runners for forcing, either through a 
dry season like the last or short stock, the above plan will answer 
admirably, and that plants equal to the best layered runners may be 
obtained with little trouble. The Strawberry makes a new set of roots 
annually from the base of the crowns, which are also an annual 
production (each single crown dividing itself into two or three separate 
ones the second year), and therefore the Strawberry may be propagated 
for any length of time in this manner if thought desirable. 
