35° 
THE GARDENING WORLD. May 23, 1908. 
Propagating Be gonia 
Gloire de Lorraine 
This beautiful winter-flowering plant is 
one of the few subjects that cannot be 
raised from seed as staminate or male 
flowers only are produced, the usual 
methods of propagation being by stem 
and leaf cuttings. To obtain a supply of 
stem cuttings old plants that have ceased 
flowering or can be dispensed with should 
be placed on a sunny shelf in a mode¬ 
rately cool greenhouse and water be 
gradually withheld, the soil beigkept only 
just moist. In about three weeks the tops 
of the plants should be cut off two or 
three inches above the soil,' and after a 
short time a number of small shoots will 
be seen growing from the base of each, 
when the pots should be removed to a 
warmer temperature, say, sixty degrees, 
and the usual supply of moisture be al¬ 
lowed. 
By treating the plants in this way good 
strong healthy shoots are produced, and 
as soon as they are large enough they 
may be removed with a sharp knife and 
be prepared by removing the two lower 
leaves and severing the stem immediately 
below a joint as shown in Fig. 1 herewith, 
two and a half inches being a suitable 
length for cuttings when prepared ready 
for insertion. Begonia shoots carrying 
flowers or showing flower buds similar to 
Fig. 2 should never be utilised for propa¬ 
gating purposes as they always result in 
tailure. 
The cuttings should be inserted singly 
in thumb pots, compost consisting of three 
parts loam, two parts leaf soil, one part 
peat and one part sand being suitable. 
Cover the surface of the soil with sand, 
make a hole in the centre with a blunt- 
pointed stick, and see that a little sand 
is carried to the bottom of each hole as 
shown in Fig. 1, as in addition to induc¬ 
ing more speedy rooting, the sand pre¬ 
vents decay of the base of the cutting. 
Insert the cuttings, make the soil mode¬ 
rately firm about the stems, water with 
tepid water, and plunge the pots in a 
.temperature of sixty-five degrees, keeping 
them close until rooting has taken place, 
when air should be gradually admitted, 
and after a time the plants be removed 
and placed on a greenhouse shelf near 
the glass, shade from bright sunshine 
being provided when necessary. 
Grow the plants steadily on, syringe 
occasionally, and as they require it repot 
into larger sizes, soil consisting of four 
parts good fibrous loam, two parts leaf 
soil, one part dry manure and one part 
Propagating Begonia Gloire de” Lorraine. 
sand forming a good general compost f, 
this class of Begonia. 
Leaf cuttings must consist of perfe 
well-developed leaves, each with a pc 
tion of leaf stem attached as shown 
Fig. 3. Fill a well-drained pan wi 
compost, make the surface firm, and i 
serf the stem of each leaf, making the sc 
quite firm about them and allowing tl 
leaf itself to rest upon the surface 
shown in Fig. 4. Plunge the pan in 
propagating case in a temperature of n 
less than sixty-five degrees, occasional 
dew over the cuttings with tepid watt 
and in a short time roots will have be> 
emitted from the leaf stems, this belt 
indicated by the appearance of new t< 
growth. Treat the cuttings in the mann 
before advised for stem cuttings, ai 
when thoroughly rooted pot off singly in 
three-inch pots. 
Ortus. 
-4-M-- 
Growing Flowers for 
Cutting. 
Many and varied are the plants whi 
can be grown to supply cut blooi 
for decorative purposes. Amongst t 
foremost is Pyrethrums, double or sing, 
especially the snow white double vane, 
which resembles a good Aster, or Ch • 
santhemum, and which is used by ! 
floral harp and wreath makers. 
Pyrethrums are easy to cultivate, al 
will grow in any ordinary soil, but p- 
fection is only attained in deep 
trenched, well manured soil, mulching 1 
spring and well watering in dry weath. 
Stocks, Asters, Carnations, Pjn, 
Sweet Williams, Snapdragons, and D;- 
lias are good for supplying cut flowe. 
Dahlia tubers should not be planted ur! 
all fear of frost is past, that is in M. 
and when in active growth should 3 
staked, and on top of the stake shod 
be placed an inverted flower pot, wi 
some green leaves and dry hay inside, > 
catch earwigs, 'which must be destrod 
daily. 
Phlox, Michaelmas Daisies, Gladios 
and Coreopsis are highly prized for vas 
and bouquets, and are easy of cultu. 
The Coreopsis have been greatly 
proved lately, and many pretty and _b - 
liant varieties are to be obtained fo:a 
modest sum. Flowering abundantly s 
they do, no garden should be with t 
them. 
Gaillardias, standing second to n<e 
for their beauty and continuous flow¬ 
ing, are invaluable, and if sown early n 
spring 
will flower in summer un r 
favourable conditions. Poppies, Pent:‘- 
mons, Ranunculus, Rudbeckia, _ Sa 1- 
jlossis, Scabious, Sweet Peas, Zinnias, ;d 
many others too numerous to mentn 
here are indispensable for cut flow<-- 
Gypsophila paniculate gives a finish t a 
bouquet, and many of the grasses >' 
very useful and ornamental to mix 'd' 
cut flowers. Some of the best varied 
are Agrostis nebulosa, Avena stern. 
Briza gracilis, Chrysurus aureus, • P< 1 
cum capillare, and many other grace' 
and pretty species. 
JOSEPH FLOY! 
