AUGUST. 
173 
the most suitable, just for this reason, that we have all the summer before us to 
prepare the plants for winter blooming, when they are required for such a 
purpose. Let us take March as a suitable month to strike the cuttings in. 
Select small shoots of half-ripened wood, say four joints long, these strike freely 
in silver sand in a hotbed ; in a short time, when rooted, they may be potted off 
in small-sized pots, according to the strength of cuttings, in good fibrous loam 
and well-rotted leaf mould, in equal parts, with a liberal addition of silver sand 
or peat, such as our specimen-plant-growers employ; either of these composts 
will suit the plant all through its future shiftings. After the first potting, in 
the course of ten days they will show signs that root-action has commenced. 
At this stage pinch out the points of the newly potted cuttings. This operation 
will cause the plants to break laterally. When these lateral shoots are of 
sufficient strength they may either be pegged down or tied with bast, being 
careful not to split the young shoots, as they are liable to be thus injured in 
consequence of being so brittle. As the plant advances in growth, keep shift¬ 
ing on till large enough—they may be grown to an immense size if required— 
at the same time practising pinching with finger and thumb, as the Pentas has 
sneli a tendency to produce flower at every third or fourth joint. 
A warm stove, with plenty of light and moisture, is most suitable, and only 
in such a medium can clean healthy-grown plants be produced. Too bright sun 
will brown the foliage, and bj r so doing slightly disfigure the plants ; hence the 
necessity of slight shading during excessively bright weather. A dozen good 
plants of this Pentas, in different stages, would furnish cut blooms nearly every 
day in the year. If old plants are grown on from year to year, they must be 
partially cut down, but not too closely, all the soil shaken away from the roots, 
and repotted ; but old plants soon look shabby. 
John Edlington (in Scottish Gardener'). 
XYEEY’S NONSUCH LETTUCE. 
I am growing the above Lettuce this season, and am vastly pleased with it. 
It attains a good size, grows rapidly, hearts well, and there is no symptom of its 
going to seed. It eats crisp and sweet, with an absence of that peculiar bitter 
taste characteristic of some Lettuces. In character, too, it is very distinct. 
I hold it to be one of the best summer Cos Lettuces in cultivation for table 
use, as well as a capital variety for the exhibition table. Is any one of the 
readers of the Florist and Pomologist growing the Holme Park Cos 
Lettuce, sent out by Messrs. Stuart & Mein, of Kelso? if so, some account of 
it will be very acceptable. Reference is seldom made to vegetables in the 
pages of the Florist and Pomologist, though why this should be so I 
cannot conceive. What can Mr. Tillery, of Welbeck, tell us, or Mr. Cox, of 
Redleaf, or Mr. Saul, of Stourton ? They, at least, can write about vegetables. 
E. W. 
NOTES AT TELE FLORAL AND FRUIT COMMITTEES. 
July 3rd .—At this meeting Messrs. Veitch & Sons exhibited Nierembergia 
species, from Tucuman, said to be hardy and of a trailing habit, something 
like Phlox verna; the flowers were of a soft lilac, somewhat resembling those 
of N. filicaulis. The same firm had Alopasia gigantea, a magnificent plant; 
various other fine-foliaged plants, and cut blooms of Dipladenia amabilis, the 
flowers being larger and far richer in colour than D. crassinoda, whilst the 
foliage and growth partake somewhat of the character of those of D. splendens. 
