1S78. ] 
POINSETTIAS, SINGLE AND DOUBLE. 
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33 
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THE JOLLY BEGGAR APPLE. 
[Plate 462.] 
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f HIS excellent early kitchen Apple was 
sent to us some time since, with a very 
high character for its quality and good 
bearing properties, by Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridge- 
worth, and Mr. Fitch has very accurately re¬ 
presented the samples of it then received. 
It is, as our figure shows, a fruit of full medium 
size, roundish, and somewhat ribbed near the 
crown, pale yellow, with a tint of deeper yellow 
on the more exposed side. The eye is large 
and open, and set in a shallow basin formed by 
the ribs already alluded to. The stalk is in¬ 
serted in a deepish hollow, and is half an inch 
or more in length. The flesh is tender and 
juicy in texture, white, sweet, with a brisk plea¬ 
sant flavour. Dr. Hogg, in his Fruit Manual , 
identifies it with a variety called Lord Gros- 
venor, and notes that it is a first-rate cook¬ 
ing-apple, in use from August till October 
(Mr. Rivers says, October to December). “ The 
great merit of this variety,” he remarks, “ is its 
great fertility, the small bush trees producing 
an abundance of fine yellow fruit. The tree 
bears very early, and is one of the most useful 
for garden-culture.” Other authorities speak 
of it as a prodigious beai’er.—T. Moore. 
POINSETTIAS, SINGLE AND DOUBLE. 
^3M0NGST the plants employed for the 
ornamentation of our houses during 
Ab the mid-winter months, the Poinsettia 
stands pre-eminent, its gorgeous brilliancy of 
colour being specially captivating and attractive, 
whilst it possesses peculiar lasting qualities 
as a decorative plant. A further point, which 
adds greatly to its popularity, consists in its 
being amenable to general treatment. Indeed 
it is of such easy culture, that even those who 
have but limited means at command may enjoy 
its dazzling gleams of colour. Doubtless, with a 
better understood system of management, we 
are now enabled to produce far more satisfactory 
results than was wont to be the case ; and in 
the place of the gaunt, straggling, ungainly- 
looking plants we were formerly in the habit 
of seeing, we have them now compact and 
sturdy, with verdant foliage resting on the pots, 
and affording a pleasing contrast to the flaming 
bracts. So simple is the necessary treat¬ 
ment, that a few brief remarks only will be 
necessary, to place before those who may be 
unacquainted therewith, the treatment which is 
most likely to insure the greatest amount of 
satisfaction. 
Premising that the plants are at rest and 
dried off, they are best kept in a temperature 
of about 50°, and may be started into growth 
so as to suit the time and various purposes for 
which they are required. The average season 
of flowering is from November to March, and 
presuming there is accommodation to grow 
No. 3. IMPERIAL SERIES,—K. 
them in quantity, they may be started in 
successional batches from June to the end of 
August, a few plants being introduced at a 
time into a brisk, humid atmosphere, where 
they will quickly start into growth. The 
Poinsettia is easily propagated in a variety of 
ways, such as by cuttings of the old wood or 
by single eyes, precisely as in the case of Vines; 
but by far the handiest and best way of in¬ 
creasing it is by cuttings of the young shoots, 
taken off when from two to three inches in 
length. These should be cut clean off with 
a heel, and be dibbled singly into small pots, 
using a light sandy compost, and plunging 
them in a close humid frame or propagating- 
liouse, with a bottom-heat of about 85°, where 
they must be shaded and kept sufficiently 
moist, as it is essential at this stage that they 
retain the tender foliage. They will quickly 
emit roots, and care will then be requisite that 
they are gradually inured to withstand full 
exposure, as from this stage onwards it is of 
primary importance that they should be fully 
exposed to every ray of light, and be kept close 
to the glass. 
Doubtless when such is available, the 
very best place in which to grow Puinsettias 
throughout the season is a low span-roofed 
house or pit, where they can have an abund¬ 
ance of light and air ; and it is well known 
that in the early stages of growth the foster¬ 
ing influence of bottom-heat to the roots is 
of the greatest advantage, as well as during 
D 
