February 23, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
405 
Dr. Audiguier is said to have raised some new 
Anemone varieties, which Delaux sent out last year, 
amongst them being 
M. Castex .—This is Nouvelle Alveole, sent out years 
ago, and certificated by the N. C. S. in 1885. 
It would be as well if our trade growers could resolve 
not to invest their cash with our French friends until 
they have had a chance of inspecting samples of the new 
things to be sent out. Let Messrs. Delaux, De 
Keydellet, and others have a stand at the next National 
show, and exhibit the seedlings they are going to 
produce. Many pounds would thus be saved to the 
trade grower that are now thrown away on worthless 
rubbish. — P. _ r*x< _ 
ON PROPAGATING BEDDING 
PLANTS. 
A few remarks on this subject may be appropriate 
just now, as the time has arrived for the work to be 
taken in hand with something approaching to earnest¬ 
ness. Of course, there are many gardens where the 
means for early propagating do not exist—at least to 
the extent of not having a specially constructed pit or 
house for the purpose, and in 
such cases it usually happens 
that recourse must be had 
to hot-beds or dung-frames. 
Under such circumstances 
as these, it is unwise to 
make a beginning with cut¬ 
tings before the first or 
second week in March, 
otherwise it will be found 
that great loss from damp¬ 
ing off will be the result, 
and this, too, in spite of 
the best care and attention 
in regard to shading and 
ventilation. 
The preparation of heat¬ 
ing material ought to be 
taken in hand forthwith, 
which is best done by 
throwing up into a conical 
heap a quantity of stable 
litter, adding thereto a few 
half-decayed leaves, where 
these are obtainable. As 
soon as the heat has fairly 
begun to rise, the heap 
should be turned over twice 
or three times at intervals of 
a few days, after which the 
bed may be made up, allow¬ 
ing about a foot more space 
outside the margin of the 
frame, and not less than 
5 ft. high, with a gentle 
slope to the front. Inside 
the frame should be placed 
about 4 ins. of leaves, or 
what is much more prefer¬ 
able, coco-nut fibre refuse, as 
a plunging material for the 
cutting pots. Do not make 
use of hot-beds too soon 
after being made up— i.e., 
not until the heat of the dung 
has attained its maximum 
and begun to decline. Such subjects as Verbenas, 
Iresines, Lobelias and Ageratums may be freely 
rooted under these conditions, provided proper care 
and attention is given to ventilation, shading, and 
covering the frames at night with mats. 
Unquestionably the best and safest method of pro¬ 
pagation will be found in a good lean-to, or span-roof 
pit, heated with hot-water, and fitted up inside with 
glass cases, &c. Happy are those who have such 
conveniences at command. Forcing houses, such as 
plant and pine stoves, or an early vinery, are structures 
in which, perhaps, more plants are propagated than in 
pits or frames. A very good plan to adopt, where a 
forcing house exists, is to employ shallow boxes about 
18 ins. long, 14 ins. wide, and 4 ins. deep, with holes 
in the bottom to allow of water passing through. 
These should be three parts filled with a suitable 
compost, consisting of two parts sifted loam, one of leaf- 
soil, and the other of sand. Press down moderately 
firm, and put a layer of sharp silver-sand on the top, 
water lightly through a fine rose watering-pot, and 
place them on the hot-water pipes for a couple of days 
previous to inserting the cuttings. The latter should 
be put in rather thinly, afterwards covering the boxes 
with panes of glass, allowing a small space between for 
the first day or two, so that the superabundant moisture 
may escape. Under this plan we have propagated 
large quantities of Alternantheras, Iresines, Verbenas, 
Ageratums, Lobelias, Mesembryanthums, Tropoeolums, 
Heliotrope, and Petunias, with very few losses. 
As soon as it is seen that the cuttings are rooted, they 
should be inured to more air by degrees, and in the 
course of a day or two the panes of glass removed 
entirely. If properly attended to in regard to heat, 
moisture, and ventilation, there ought not to be a loss 
of 5 percent. It is a good plan to place in the bottoms 
of the boxes a layer of decayed manure and rough 
pieces of turfy loam. By so doing the young plants 
will be kept on the move, and may remain in the 
boxes till bedding-out time arrives. Dahlia tubers 
may be started in heat towards the end of this month, 
in a temperature of from 55° to 60°. Cover them with 
finely-sifted compost, and withhold water till young 
growth makes its appearance, after which period they 
ought not to be allowed to suffer from dryness at the 
roots ; syringe them also overhead occasionally. When 
the young shoots are about 2 ins. long, cut them off 
Galaxtiius Elwesii. 
near the base with a sharp knife, and insert singly in 
thumb-pots, plunging the latter to the rims in a bottom- 
heat of from 70° to 80°, not forgetting to shade from 
bright sunshine. 
Such things as Cannas and tuberous-rooted Begonias 
may also be started in heat without further delay, and 
may be increased by division when active growth has 
begun. Where it is desired to make the most of the 
latter, the tubers should be cut into small pieces, with 
at least one shoot about £ in. long to each. Pot them 
off into 3-in. pots, and shift into larger ones when 
necessary.— J. H. 
-- 
SNOWDROPS. 
All the three recognised species of Snowdrop are now 
in perfection. The season commenced with the early- 
flowering varieties of Galanthus nivalis, including 
G. n. pnecox, and since the recent snowstorm disap¬ 
peared, the others, induced by the genial mildness of 
the weather, have come on rapidly. Of the common 
Snowdrop there are several very distinct varieties, so 
much so that several of them have been described as 
species. Of these G. n. Imperati is distinguished by 
its broad very glaucous leaves and large flowers. G. n. 
latifolius is another, with equally broad but grass-green 
foliage, quite unlike any other kind. In G. n. reflexus 
the outer segments of the flower are reflexed in a similar 
manner to those of a Cyclamen. G. n. etiolatus has 
the ovary and the tips of the inner segments yellow 
instead of green, giving them a curious blanched 
appearance, as the varietal name implies. G. n. 
Shaylockii is characterised by having green blotches on 
the tips of the outer segments, and a curious bifid 
spathe, resembling two small green leaves; while 
G. n. virescens has the whole of the inner segments 
green. The double form (G. n. flore pleno) is a popular 
market variety, but loses much of the gracefulness of 
the single one. All those named are sufficiently 
distinct to be included in a collection, and would prove 
most interesting to lovers of hardy plants. 
The finest of all the Snowdrops is undoubtedly G. 
Elwesii, of which we give an illustration. The flowers 
are large and handsome, the outer segments broad and 
spreading when in perfection, showing off the inner 
ones to best advantage. They stand erect, forming a 
narrow-mouthed cup, and have two very characteristic 
deep green blotches on the 
outside. It was introduced 
from Asia Minor in 1875. 
The third species—namely, 
G. plicatus—is a native of 
the Crimea, from whence it 
was introduced in 1818. 
It is similar to the common 
Snowdrop, but has a longi¬ 
tudinal fold or plait between 
the midrib and margin of 
the leaf on each side ; hence 
the specific name. It seems 
to be flowering rather early 
this season. 
-- 
FORMS OF 
LEAVES. 
( Continued from p. 359 ). 
Unequal Pairs of Leaves. 
The Sycamore (Acer Pseudo- 
Platanus) has five - lobed 
leaves, resembling in a 
measure those of the Plane, 
but they are in opposite pairs, 
and the five primary nerves 
originate at the base, which 
is cordate. This latter 
character is traceable back 
to the first pair of leaves of 
the seedling, which are 
heart-shaped. This was, no 
doubt, the ancestral form 
possessed by the tree, and 
which gradually evolved to 
what we now see it. Maples 
are abundantly represented 
in the tertiary system. On 
horizontal branches the in¬ 
fluence of light destroys 
the symmetry of the leaves, 
making the pairs of un¬ 
equal sizes. The companion 
leaf on the under side 
of the branch is often conspicuously larger, with 
a remarkably elongated stalk. If the upper one 
had been the larger it would only have increased the 
evil by overshadowing the lower one altogether. 
Towards the apex of the shoots, where there is an equal 
exposure to light, the companion leaves of each pair are 
more nearly, if not quite, equal, and remarkably aggre¬ 
gated, forming a rosette, with the uppermost ones 
gradually smaller, and occupying the centre. This 
ensures the maximum amount of surface for collecting 
the sun’s rays with the least expenditure of energy and 
waste of material. In another species of Maple (Acer 
dasycarpum) as many as from ten to fourteen leaves are 
sometimes clustered on the tip of a shoot not more 
than 3 ins. long. This could not be carried out on anv 
other part of the branch unless the leaves were reduced 
to pigmies. 
The Ash-leaved Maple (Negundo aceroides) is also 
characterised by opposite more or less unequal-paired 
leaves. The companion pairs placed perpendicularly to 
the earth’s surface are unequal, while those placed 
horizontally are generally about equal, because one 
does not shade the other ; but the special point in this 
case is that the leaves are pinnate, with from three to 
