60 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ April, 
disturbed, that will support the plant in health, 
while the closely cut roots on the other two 
sides strike forth fresh vigorous } r oung roots 
into the new ground. 
My rule was—in moving a large number of 
Portugal laurels, evergreen oaks, a few hollies 
and Deodars—to take the length across the 
tree from the outside of the branches on the 
lightest side of the tree-top to the outside of 
the branches on the opposite side, the width 
being from five to sis diameters of the trank 
nine inches or a foot above the ground. This 
shape gives the advantage of grasping the 
whole mass of earth and roots within a home¬ 
made rough pair of timber pincers, the jaws of 
which are each a half box, not shorter than 
the block of earth nor more than half its width ; 
these two binding all together tightly, prevent 
the shaking of the roots and earth asunder 
in transit. These trees were from twelve to 
twenty years old, and were all moved in Febru¬ 
ary—a few in hard frost. Some leaf-mould 
was mixed with the earth that was put around 
them ; they were all placed a little higher than 
the land, and after all was firmly trodden 
round and raked over, well mulched with half- 
rotten dung. Not a tree suffered more check 
than it would have done from preparation for 
future transplanting, and the second season all 
were in robust growth, and many full of flower 
and fruit. 
I should have stated that in placing the 
trees, the heaviest side of the top should be put 
facing the stormy aspect, which causes the tree 
to grow more symmetrical.—P eter Love, 21 
Queen's Road , Upton Park , Essex (in Irish 
Farmer's Gazette). 
MARKET PLANTS.—III. 
Dracaenas and Ferns. 
I (YipOLIAGED plants are largely in demand 
j jjb for market purposes, but it may be said 
(gT to be essential that they possess hand' 
somely marked foliage or an elegant habit of 
growth. The Dracaena and the Fern stand as 
excellent illustrations of these two qualities, 
and they are much grown in consequence. 
In propagating Dracaenas , a kind of frame 
or hot-bed within a stove is used. A 
great amount of bottom-heat and a moist 
atmosphere are required, and these are best 
secured by placing a small frame on the bed 
under which the hot-water pipes are conducted, 
with a glass lid lifting up and down. This is 
filled with fresh cocoa-nut refuse, and that only ; 
it is of the very first importance that the cocoa- 
fibre be quite fresh, and not that previously 
used for forcing purposes ; and this is put into 
the frame to the depth of two or three inches. 
The mode of converting the top of a 
Draccena into a vigorous young plant, by 
suspending a small pot which encircles the 
stem just below the lowermost leaves, need 
not be set forth in this relation ; but when this 
is done, the stem of the decapitated plant is 
used for raising cuttings, and it is cut up into 
a series of circular segments, each containing 
one or more eyes, and these are inserted in the 
bed, and barely covered from view. The 
brisk, moist bottom - heat soon causes 
these pieces to put forth shoots, which in 
their turn quickly make root, and then the 
rooted shoots are carefully removed from the 
piece of stem, and placed singly in thumb-pots 
and plunged into bottom-heat, and grown on into 
size as rapidly as possible. A segment of the 
stem will put forth from one and two to five 
and six, and even more plants. Young Dra¬ 
caenas are never over-potted ; they are shifted 
into a slightly larger pot when necessary, and 
if the plants are well handled they will average 
from 15 in. to 20 in. in height in twelve 
months, and be proportionately well developed 
in width, and furnished with healthy leaves to 
the bottom of the stem. 
It is during December, January, and February 
that the great bulk of the Draccenas are pro¬ 
pagated, and they are sent to market a fortnight 
or so previous to Christmas, and then on till 
the stock is exhausted. When the plants are 
taken into an intermediate house to grow on 
into size, the atmosphere is close and comfort¬ 
ably warm ; in the autumn a moist atmosphere 
is maintained, but as autumn fades into winter, 
they are kept somewhat drier, as damp at that 
season will spot and disfigure their leaves. The 
old D. tenninalis is largely grown for market; 
it has a sturdy growth, which causes it to stand 
well, and it colours quickly and effectively. D. 
Cooperi and D. rubra are also favourite 
varieties, while D. regina will also be used for 
market-growing when it becomes plentiful 
enough. The great bulk of the plants are sent 
to market in 48-sized pots, and they are then, 
when well done, perfect examples of successful 
cultivation. 
Ferns are so largely grown that they may 
be counted by the thousand. The largest bulk 
