CULTURE OF THE STOVE PLANTS. 
91 
16. Hard-baked pots are always injurious, and should, therefore, 
never be used; nor should any slender growing plants be placed in 
too large pots; as a general rule, a slender growing plant will thrive 
better somewhat cramped at the roots, than when overpotted. Strong 
growing plants requiring more room for their roots, seldom suffer 
from the size of the pots, provided other circumstances agree. 
17. During the hot months of summer, the plants must be well 
supplied with water, and if they are syringed over head, not less 
than three times a week, in hot dry weather, and once a week at all 
seasons of the year, it will keep them clean, and be very conducive 
to their health. It is also necessary that the atmosphere of the 
house should be kept constantly more or less humid, this may be 
accomplished by throwing water on the walks and flues of the house 
every day. 
Propagation.— The methods of propagation are by cuttings, lay¬ 
ers, suckers, seeds, and divisions of the roots. 
18. Cuttings. —No period can be definitely fixed for planting the 
cuttings of the different genera; this must always be left to the 
judgment of the cultivator. Some plants propagate freely by cut¬ 
tings of the young and tender wood, as Melastoma Barleria, Astra- 
paea, Inga, &c ; others, when the wood begins to assume a brownish 
colour, oris half ripened as Ixora, Bauhinia, Passiflora, Ruellias, & c : 
whilst others will only strike freely, when the wood is perfectly ripe, 
as Grevillea, Blakea, Cheirostemon, Achania, &c. but as a general 
rule, the season lasts from January to August. 
19. All hard wooded kinds make roots best in clear sand, but soft 
wooded kinds, require to be planted in light loamy soil. After pro¬ 
perly draining the pots, fill them with sand or soil according to the 
kinds intended to be propagated. On no account mix soft wooded 
and hard wooded kinds together in the same pot. 
20. If a hotbed frame can be appropriated to the purpose of stri¬ 
king the cuttings, so much the better; but if not, place them in a 
damp, shady part of the stove; in either place they require to be 
sheltered from the rays of the sun, until they have struck root. 
21. Care is requisite in removing the leaves from the lower end of 
the cuttings that the bark be in no wise injured. Never take off 
more leaves than are necessary for the insertion of the cutting, nor 
mutilate, or shorten.the remaining ones. 
22. After the cuttings are put in, a gentle sprinkling of water may 
be given through a fine rose, to settle the soil about them; after which 
they may be placed in the situations where they are to strike, and be 
closely covered by glasses from the air until they have begun to grow. 
