148 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ October, 
an absolute necessity, tlie omission to carry out 
whicli in due time will often result in tire re¬ 
duction of very large and valuable specimens to 
a shadow of what they had once been. For if 
the extremities of the creeping stems are 
allowed for any considerable time to beep on 
extending over the edge of the pot or tub, they 
die back, the result of which is that the inner 
or central portion of these creeping rhizomes 
having become with age both hard and devoid 
of eyes, they all but refuse to break back ; if 
they do so it is very sparingly, and almost in¬ 
variably weakly. This state of matters is often 
brought about by a reluctance to divide fine 
examples, through fear that they would not 
well bear it; yet if the operation is carried 
out at the right season, there is nothing to 
fear, provided that the plants are not cut up 
into too small pieces. 
My own practice has been to cut up plants 
that have attained a considerable size—say, that 
have filled 18-inch or 20-inch pots, or occupied 
tubs larger than this. A plant filling an 18- 
inch pot may safely be divided into six or eight 
pieces, or possibly still smaller, but, except for 
trade purposes, I should by no means advise 
going further than this, as the smaller the 
divisional pieces are, the more weakening is 
the effect upon them, and this to a greater 
extent than with most ferns. I have always 
found the results most satisfactory when a 
plant of the size named was cut into three or 
four, in which case the succeeding growth has 
scarcely shown the effects of breaking up, the 
first crop of fronds being little, if any, inferior 
in size to those produced before the plants 
were disturbed. The way to proceed is to 
separate the fronds composing the head of the 
plant, allotting to each portion of the root to 
be separated the portion of fronds springing 
immediately from it; then to turn the plant 
out of its pot, and with a large carving-knife 
or sharp edging-iron, cut the pieces asunder 
right through the ball, without any more dis¬ 
turbance of the roots than the simple severance 
makes unavoidable, and at once to place them 
in pots, well drained and sufficiently large to 
admit of a good season’s growth, without the 
likelihood of the young creeping stems, that 
during the time will probably be formed, 
extending over the rim. 
The best lime for carrying out the operation 
is in the autumn, about the end of September 
or October, and the plants should be at once 
placed in a temperature of 50° by night, and 
5° or 10° higher in the day, and kept at some¬ 
thing like this through the winter, which will 
keep them moving on slowly, and ready to 
grow away freely when the time comes round. 
Fibrous peat, to which has been added a 
seventh or an eighth part of broken crocks, or 
coal-cinders (one will answer as well as thB 
other), and a little sand, grows them the best. 
Where ordinary pots are used, they may be 
one-third filled with crocks, as the plants 
are shallow rooters; but care must at all 
times be taken that the soil never gets 
dry, or it will do serious mischief. They 
are better not syringed overhead, and do 
much the best in a drier atmosphere than 
that required for most ferns.—T. Baines, 
Southgate. 
THE NATIONAL CAKNATION AND PICOTEE SOCIETY. 
NOKTHERISr SECTION. 
exhibition was held in the gardens 
Koyal Botanical and Horticul- 
tural Society of Manchester, at Old 
Trafford, on August 23rd; and the weather 
being delightfully fine, there was a large 
attendance of visitors. 
The date of exhibition was not decided till 
this ill-fated season had already shown great un¬ 
kindliness ; and large allowance was made for 
time lost beyond redemption, but it proved not 
“ play ” enough for such a summer (save the 
mark), as has consisted mainly in cold days, 
wet or overcast, and in nights so clear and 
bright, that we knew the wet earth was losing 
vital heat, both in the gloom under the clouds 
by day, and by radiation under the stars by 
night. 
All the growers complained that “ they were 
young,” in allusion of course to the flowers of 
the day ; and one old hand must have had 
many saddening thoughts of wonder at what 
the floral world had come to, as he watched 
the demoralising spectacle of his Carnations 
coming out under glass and fire-heat in mid- 
August. The brilliant collection at Sheffield 
is too large to be fully protected, and it was 
