REVIEW. 
127 
assume a brownish colour, and are getting of rather a firm texture, as many of 
the sorts are liable to damp, or rot off, when the wood is soft and young. But, 
previously to the preparing of the cuttings, there should be a pot or deep pan 
got in readiness, well drained and filled with the soil or sand, as the nature of 
the plant may require. The hard woody kinds will strike root best in sharp 
sand, while the soft or herbaceous-like sorts will root freely in a mixture of sand 
and loam. There should, also, be got ready the frame for sowing tropical seeds, 
&.c. into which such sorts as require a little bottom heat may be plunged as soon 
as they are put into the cutting pots. Those species which are put in early in 
spring will succeed better by the assistance of a gentle heat applied around the 
pots; but when the season is more advanced they will readily strike root with¬ 
out it.” 
“ In preparing the cuttings, care must be taken not to injure the bark in the 
removal of the leaves, which should be cut off close to the wood, as far as is ne¬ 
cessary for that part of the cutting to be inserted in the soil; none of the upper 
leaves ought to be shortened or removed, nor should they be planted deeper in 
the soil than is requisite for the fastening of the cuttings; when they are put in, 
a little water should be given, to settle the soil or sand more firmly about them. 
As soon as the wet has evaporated from their leaves, they should be removed to 
the propagating frame, and if covered with bell or hand-glasses, the surer, in 
general, will the success be; although many of the sorts will strike very freely 
without them, provided they are not exposed to too much air, and are shaded 
from the effects of the mid-day sun.” 
“ The cutting pots will require to be frequently examined, and should not be 
permitted to become either too wet or too dry, but be kept in a medium, vege¬ 
tating, state of moisture. The glasses will require occasionally wiping, to pre¬ 
vent the damp from injuring or rotting the leaves of the cuttings. As soon as 
the cuttings have struck root, and begin to grow, they ought to be immediately 
potted off in small sized pots, and replaced in a frame, where they can be gradu¬ 
ally hardened, and acclimated to the temperature of the greenhouse, previous to 
their removal out of that department. There are, however, many species of plants, 
we cannot propagate by cuttings of their branches, and we are, consequently, 
obliged to have recourse to other means of propagation to increase the stock, 
such as by grafting, budding, laying, inarching, and the saving of seeds.” 
“ The most natural and successful method of procuring plants, is unquestion¬ 
ably by seeds : but as many of our most valuable sorts do not flower in this 
country, no seeds can ever be obtained in this case. There are, likewise, several 
kinds that can be readily increased by cuttings off the root, which will not pro¬ 
pagate from the shoots, or produce seeds freely. When, however, a collection 
of seeds can be procured from abroad, in a recent state, there is a great chance 
of obtaining new or rare plants; a portion of such should be sown immediately 
on their arrival, as many of them will be found to vegetate when first received, 
that would not, if kept to the ensuing spring. Those from a tropical country 
will require a moderate bottom heat to assist their germination.” 
“ Seeds from New Holland, the Cape, and other mild climates, will vegetate 
readily by being placed in a cold frame, or in a cool shaded part of the green¬ 
house, and kept regularly supplied with due proportions of water, so that the 
soil in which they are sown may be kept in a moist vegetating state. The green¬ 
house plants, as well as all other scarce sorts, which have flowered during the 
