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Would it not also bo more generally useful, if in your ()ublication llie cominoti 
names of plants and flowers vrere put with their Ijotanical ones? 
If your correspondent, Electricus, (see February,) would have the goodness to 
show by estimates and plans, how small forcing houses, for grapes, &c., can be 
built, of the dimensions, and for the sums he states, I am sure he would confer an 
obligation on many of your readers, myself amongst them; and as Vigorniensis 
has given a scale by which to regulate the heat in pineries, perhaps he, or some 
other of your correspondents, would favour us with a similar one, not only for 
Vines, hut for Melons and Cncumbors. May we also enquire what is the peculiar 
method of pruning, &c., adopted by Mr. Hoare, of Siddlesham, by which he ob¬ 
tains the Black Hamburgh Grape iu perfection on an open wall ?—here vvC cannot 
get the fruit to ripen. The Common Sweet Water, and the Black Cluster, seldom 
fail. 
Have any of your correspondents, or readers, cultivated the Verbena, or Lemon 
plant, (I know not that I am correct in the name) out of doors, if so, would they 
have the kindness to inform me of tlieir mode, the soil most suitable, and the 
easiest waj of propagating it? By so doing they will confer a favour upon. 
Gentlemen, yoi^r obedient Servant, 
fVi. 27, 1832. Si’FFOLK. 
Propagating Balsams, &c. by cuttings. —When 1 lived as foreman at the late 
Duke of York’s, Oatlands, 27 years ago, we had some fine Double Balsams. I was 
desirous to retain some of them genuine, as they were ; consequently I put in some 
cuttings of the choicest kinds into pots, in a hot-bed, and they all struck root freely. 
They were not struck under hell glasses, but in pots filled with maiden loam, to 
within something more than the height of the cuttings from the top of the pot, to 
allow room for the extension of the cuttings whilst striking; and then covering 
the top of the pot with a Oat glass. The sides of the pots act as a sufficient shade 
for the cutting's, ajul turning the glasses upside down every morning, prevents the 
condensed vapour upon the glass from injuring the cuttings. The strong sweet 
steam of a hot-hed is the best to strike them in ; and if a little fine pure pit-sand is 
put upon the top of the loam, there is a much greater chance of success. The 
Balsam is as easily propagated by cuttings as the Cnciimber and the Melon ; and 
few good practical gardeners are ignorant how readily those will strike in 
a steam, aiid a fine bottom heal, having the pots plunged nearly to their briiiis iu 
the soil of the bed. 
Most gardeners of extensive and enthusiastic practice, have used their utmost 
endeavours to keep the Balsam, Cucumber, and the Melon, by cuttings through 
the winter months ; hut with very little success. I have kept all of them 
till after Christmas, hut after that period till the middle of February, it is 
very difficult to preserve them, especially if the Tbrips and Red Spider he in the 
houses. Therefore G. I. T. v/ill only find the importance of propagating from 
cuttings for his late crops of Cucumbers and Melons, and for such as he intends to 
retain in pots for the hothouse, and to continue in bearing till Christmas, and as 
lono- afterwards as skill, attention, and well adjusted machinery will do. We could 
accomplish every thing as in the summer months, if we had the power of light 
from the middle of December to the middle of February ; hut I fear, amongst all 
our wonderful and important inventions, nothing will ever be discovered to retaiiv, 
or act as a substitute for light. 
J. ^FfaRns. 
3 N 
VoL. 1, No. 10. 
