326 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 21, 1888. 
also a mistake to give liquid or water when ice cold. 
The dropping of buds is sometimes very troublesome, 
some varieties being more liable to it than others. 
There are many causes for this. The Camellia, like 
many more hard-wooded plants, has two distinct flows 
of sap ; the first is absorbed in the formation of young 
wood, nature then causes a partial stoppage of sap, 
and the plants appear to be dormant; but they are 
then forming their buds. As soon as this is done, 
reaction commences, and upon it the success of the 
flowers depends. Unless food material is stored up in 
mature, strong, and healthy buds, the result will be 
that they will fail for lack of nourishment and drop. 
There are many evils causing buds to drop at this 
season, but this, no doubt, is the main cause. 
-- 
THE PROPAGATION OF PLANTS. 
( Concluded from p. 310 .) 
Some bulbous-rooted plants propagate so rapidly—as, 
for instance, Scilla, Oxalis, and Iris—by throwing out 
so many young bulbs, that they cease to send up 
flower-stalks. To remedy this evil they should be 
annually taken up, their young bulbs removed, and the 
parent or some of the strongest ones planted singly 
when it is desirable that they should flower ; or by 
sacrificing the offspring by destroying the young leaves 
as they appear, the old bulb-will send up its flower- 
stalk annually. "Where the object is rather to increase 
the bulb for flowering than the propagation of the 
kind, the young ones should be destroyed as soon as 
they are known to exist, which will be determined by 
their sending up young leaves. These young bulbs 
should be destroyed or displaced by clearing away the 
soil carefnlty from round the parent bulb. Another 
mode of increase is by runners. These are young 
shoots issuing from the collar or summit of the root, 
and creeping along the surface of the soil, but producing 
new roots and leaves at the extremity, and forming a 
new individual by the decay of the connecting link, of 
which we have a familiar illustration in the Strawberry. 
Soft-wooded Cuttings. 
The process of raising plants by cuttings is well known to 
all gardeners, but a considerable knowledge of the struc¬ 
ture of a plant is necessary in many cases before it 
can be carried out to a successful result. The rooting 
of most soft-wooded cuttings will be greatly accelerated 
by retaining a leaf at their base. The reason of this 
appears to be that the leaf or leaves left continue to 
perform their proper functions, and thus prepare, at 
the very spot where it is required, a supply of organ- 
isable matter, which is almost immediately expended 
in the formation of roots ; whereas, if no leaves are 
left at this point, a suspension of vital energy must for 
a longer period be the consequence, as the duration of 
this suspension will be regulated by the distance of the 
next leaves from the base of the cutting, and the 
condition of the latter itself with respect to the softness 
or firmness of its tissues. Those who are conversant 
with the principle of propagation are aware that the 
chief desiderata necessary to insure success are a j udicious 
application of the important agents—air, light, and 
moisture ; and if it is important in all cases to regulate 
the application of these agents with precision, it is 
more than usually so in carrying out the system here 
recommended, as the more leaves there are upon a 
cutting, the more liable will it be to suffer from being 
subjected to a very powerful application of any one of 
these agents. For instance, if air is too freely admitted, 
in the absence of the other counteracting agents, it 
will only drain the cutting of its stored-up juices ; or 
if light be admitted in excess, it will only paralyse the 
energy of the cutting by effecting a too rapid 
decomposition of its reserve material and the exha¬ 
lation of carbonic acid gas. Similar injurious effects 
will follow the application in excess of the other agents. 
If the cutting is subjected to a high temperature, this 
will cause an immediate extension of its stems and 
leaves at the expense of the organisable matter which 
ought to have been expended in the formation of the 
roots ; or if moisture is administered too copiously, the 
complete destruction of the cutting will very soon be 
the result, as the leaf or leaves retained for the express 
purpose of accelerating the emission of roots will, 
from their damping off, hasten the decomposition of the 
other parts. It seems, then, that the more leaves there 
are upon a cutting, the more care will be necessary ; 
but if that care is exercised in securing it such a genial 
atmosphere and such an amount of light and air as will 
prevent it from being either drawn or “flagged,” roots 
will sooner be emitted than if fewer leaves are left. To 
prevent the formation of suckers, the bud at the base 
of the cutting should be extracted. 
Layering and Grafting. 
With reference to layering, the only art required is to 
contrive the most effectual means of interrupting the 
returning sap so as to produce as great an accumulation 
of it as possible at the point from which the roots are 
to be produced. Many plants protrude annually from 
the collar, a number of young shoots encircling the 
principal stem, and depriving it of a portion of its 
nourishment. Succulent plants are mainly increased 
by this means. I come now to the last part of my 
subject, that is, propagating by grafting. The theory 
of grafting is to unite only varieties of the same species 
—species of the same genus ; and by extension, genera 
of the same natural family. Unless this union of 
natures be observed, success will not attend the 
operation. The principle on which grafting depends is 
simple, and may be explained in a few words. (1) Let 
us premise that no vital union takes place between the 
respective woods of stock and scion. (2) Nor between 
wood and bark. (3) Neither will the edges of outer 
bark unite. (4) Solid parts have no power to unite of 
themselves, and can only be kept in contact by 
mechanical means or by the formation of new woody 
layers around them. If it is proved that solid parts 
will not unite, the junction or vital union must 
evidently be effected by means of fluids. Of these, 
tw r o kinds are found in trees, distinguished as the 
ascendiug and descending saps. The former is drawn 
from the soil by the roots, and ascends through the 
cell walls of the sapwood to the bud and leaves. Till it 
reaches the latter it is an unorganised liquid, but after 
passing through the leaves in which it has been exposed 
to the action of light it is capable of forming organised 
tissue, which it does as it returns between the wood 
and the inner bark. It is there that the vital union 
between stock and scion takes place, in consequence of 
their respective organised tissues coming in contact. 
The principle of grafting, then, is reduced simply to 
placing sections of the stock and scion so that their 
inner parts shall coincide and admit of the organising 
cellular tissue, existing immediately under these barks, 
coming in contact with each other. 
A brief discussion ensued, in which Mr. G. Lunt, 
Mr. Elkin, Mr. W. Plant, and Mr. R. Tait took part, 
and a cordial vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. 
Findlay. - 
In Mr. Bruce Findlay’s paper on the propagation of 
plants (p. 309) he says there is only one natural mode 
of reproduction, and that is from seed ; all other 
modes of increase are artificial.” Now, that is not so. 
Perhaps you will allow me to point out that there are 
two distinct modes of natural reproduction, and they 
may occur separately or together on the same plant. 
Generally, plants possess both modes of multiplication. 
These are distinguished as the non-sexual, vegetative 
mode (which is agamogenesis), and the sexual (which 
is gamogenesis), and, in all probability, the former 
is the oldest mode. The following may be taken as 
familiar examples of vegetative reproduction, namely, 
the runners or stolons of the Strawberry, some species 
of Ranunculus and Potentilla, the bulbils in the axils 
of the leaves of Lilium bulbiferum, L. tigrinum, 
Achimenes, and the small bulbs produced in the axils 
of the scales of large ones. The Potato produces under¬ 
ground stems or tubers ; so also does the Jerusalem 
Artichoke, &c. Around the base of the corm of 
Gladiolus small ones are produced sexually, and are 
generally known amongst gardeners as the spawn. 
Then we have the creeping rhizomes or underground 
stems occurring in the common Brake, Lily of the 
Valley, Couch Grass, and others. There is the familiar 
example, common in Alpine and herbaceous plants, of 
dying from the centre outwards, and thus multiplying 
the number of plants. Then in trees and shrubs we 
have reproduction by means of adventitious buds, 
familiar examples being found in the suckers from the 
Raspberry, Peach and Plum trees, also in the Elm, 
Poplar, &c. But this will be sufficient to show that 
there is a mode of natural reproduction otherwise than 
from seeds .—Alexander Wright. 
-- 
THE CLAPTON NURSERY. 
Notwithstanding the chronic smoke and fog to which 
London is periodically subjected, and the difficulties 
under which gardening therefore labours, evidence is 
not wanting here of much of which horticulture might 
justly feel proud. The large quantities of Orchids, 
Heaths, Azaleas, and other hard and soft-wooded 
plants that become disseminated from this place all 
over the country is familiar to most of the gardening 
community. Most of the soft-wooded and other 
flowering plants, with the exception of Orchids, are 
taken to Enfield, some miles out in the country, 
where they can enjoy, if not a sunnier sky, at least a 
clearer atmosphere, the advantages of which are well 
known to every cultivator. The Cyclamens are there at 
present, with the exception of the next year’s plants, 
—the seedlings, which have now been potted off in im¬ 
mense quantities, and are furnished with three or four 
leaves. 
Hard-wooded and Flowering Plants. 
As an instance of the high appreciation in which Aralia 
Sieboldi is held, may be mentioned a house over 100 ft. 
in length, filled with plants of a useful size for decora¬ 
tive purposes, about two years old. Another house i3 
filled with one-year-old seedlings, small, but pretty even 
in their miniature state. The same might be said of 
Araucaria excelsa, with which another house of equal 
dimensions is filled. The plants are shapely and most 
beautifully furnished with healthy light green branches 
and leaves, and range from 8 ins. to 16 ins. in height. 
■ For decorative purposes they are handsome. A general 
collection of Heaths, Azaleas, and Rhododendrons fills 
a house about 200 ft. or 300 ft. in length. The Heaths 
and Azaleas here are mostly of some considerable size; 
small plants of both occupy cold frames closely ranged 
over a large extent of ground like a village of low glass 
houses. Small Heaths are being potted on in immense 
quantities. Several houses are filled with tree Car¬ 
nations, clean, healthy, and in all stages’of flowering, 
or young plants. 
Bouvardias are grown in several houses, and of 
different sizes, many of which are gay with their brightly 
coloured flowers. Bushy plants of Priory Beauty from 
12 ins. to 15 ins. in height are furnished with trusses 
of clear pink flowers. Those of Dazzler are rosy 
scarlet, and very freely produced. Elegans is a bright 
scarlet, but is surpassed in brilliancy and freedom of 
flowering by President Cleveland. Alfred Neuner and 
President Garfield are now well known for their double 
white and double pink flowers respectively. 
Ferns and Palms. 
Only a few of the most popular and useful for 
decorative purposes are kept and grown in quantity. 
Adiantums include A. cuneatum, A. gracillimum, A. 
decorum, and A. concinnum latum, whose utility is too 
well known to need comment. Lomaria Gibba is a great 
favourite for decorative purposes, as is Pteris cretica, 
P. c. major, P. argynea, Lastrea aristata variegata, a 
beautifully variegated, very hardy, and useful Fern. 
Large quantities of Palms in a young state include 
Latania borbonica, Areca lutescens, Kentia Fosteriana, 
and Seaforthia elegans, indispensable among this class 
of plants for decorative purposes. 
Orchids. 
In the cool houses a large number of very select forms of 
Odontoglossum crispum are now in various stages of ad¬ 
vancement, from the bud to the expanded state. These 
forms, from pure white to highly-blotched, are remark¬ 
able for size of flower, breadth of petal, and variety of 
colour. A grand piece of O. MTlckeanum carries a long 
arching spike, branched at the base, and bearing 
twenty fully-expanded heavily-blotched flowers. "We 
noticed a pale yellow slightly-spotted form of O. 
hebraicum, sufficiently pretty to be grown as a variety. 
The sweetly-scented white flowers of O. pulchellum • 
majus seem to be always in season. A charming little 
Eestrepia has been grown here for several years, without 
anyone being able to name it. It is something in the 
way of R. elegans, but it is beautifully marked with 
golden yellow and rich brown lines alternately. 
Cypripediums here, as elsewhere, at present are held 
in high estimation, of which the immense numbers of 
the plants themselves bear silent witness. Of Cypri- 
pedium Sanderianum alone there are some 7,000 plants 
scattered about in different houses, and many of them 
have flowered. One peculiarity of this species is that 
no large specimens of it have been found or sent home. 
There are some 4,000 plants of C. Lawrenceana, 
established and in healthy condition; several were 
flowering and some of them were exceptionally fine. 
C. Lowii is getting scarce in its native home, a fact 
which must increase its value. Its counterpart, C. 
Haynaldianum, is a grand thing, and some of the largest 
specimens are to be seen here. The standards are 
yellow and brown, blotched upwards, and suffused with 
rose on a white ground. But the large rich purple 
blotches on the petals, which are rose-coloured in the 
upper part, constitute the boldest and most conspicuous 
feature of the flower. C. Hookers is notable for the 
beautifully tessellated character of the foliage. Some 
of the most beautiful and ornamental of the Angrrecums 
are grown in quantity. The first of the flowers of A. 
sesquipedale have been open for some time, and measure 
over 6 ins. across the petals, while the spur is over a 
