December 14, 1907. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
783 
Petunias. 
(Concluded from -page 757-) 
Propagation by Cuttings. 
The seedlings of the double varieties 
of the Petunia will require larger pots for 
them to flower in, as they make much 
more root than the single ones, and when 
in flower a selection should be made, only 
retaining those that are of a good habit 
and have good double flowers. Cuttings 
may be taken either in autumn or in the 
spring. If it is desired to take the cut¬ 
tings in autumn, the plants should be cut 
back rather hard in August, and then in 
a few weeks there will be plenty of cut¬ 
tings readv. They will root more quickly 
if they can be put in a little bottom heat, 
but this is not absolutely necessary. 
When they are rooted the plants should 
be kept just growing through the winter 
by keeping them in a warm house and be¬ 
pawing careful attention to watering, for 
the soil should be kept just moist, but 
never by any chance should it be wet and 
sodden. If the cuttings are to be taken 
in the spring, cut the plants back after 
flowering, and keep the soil in a moist 
condition through the winter, and it will 
be noticed that there are plenty of cut¬ 
tings ready for insertion by the beginning 
of February. 
The one great secret in growing double 
Petunias—well, is to never let the plants 
become pot-bound; and if very large 
plants are desired, nine or ten inch pots 
should be used, but for all ordinary pur¬ 
poses eight inch pots will be large 
enough. 
As soon as the cuttings are well rooted, 
pot them up into three inch pots, using 
the same mixture as for the seedlings, and 
as the plants grow pinch the leaders to 
encourage a bushy habit, and stake out 
all the growths to' secure a good shaped 
plant. When the roots reach the sides 
of the pots, give the plants a shift, for 
at no time will Petunias do well if they 
are pot-bound. It is far better to increase 
the size of the pots step by step, and not 
pot on out of a three inch pot right into 
an eight inch pot, or the soil may become 
sour before the roots have taken posses¬ 
sion of it all, and that would be very 
detrimental to the well-being of the 
plants. 
The soil I recommend for potting on is 
about three parts good fibrous loam and 
one part dried cow manure or leaf mould 
with enough silver sand added to keep 
the whole porous. Keep the plants clean 
by an occasional fumigation, and when 
the largest size pots are full of roots give 
a little weak liquid manure now and then, 
to help the plants during the flowering 
period. Plenty of water will be required 
during growth, and also when in flower, 
but they will do with far less in the win- 
ter; in fact, it would be better to keep 
them on the dry side than to ha\e them 
too wet. 
Anyone who has never grown these 
beautiful plants would do well to begin 
as soon as possible, for they would be de¬ 
lighted with the results, if they only treat 
the plants kindly. 
r SCRIPTOR. 
- Hybrid Tea Hose Liberty. - 
For colour and continuous blooming, 
as well as for greenhouse culture, this 
relatively new Rose would be difficult to 
beat. The only one coming at all close 
to it is Richmond, and Liberty was one of 
its parents. The flowers are usually de¬ 
scribed as velvety crimson, and for exhibi¬ 
tion purposes are best during the first 
period of flowering. Just when the buds 
are in the half-opened condition they are 
of first-class value for making button¬ 
holes. The long pointed form of the bud 
and its rich colour takes the eye of most 
people who fancy Roses, and few there 
are who do not. During September the 
flowers are still abundant, though they 
are more open, quite unlike w 7 hat they 
were in the early part of the season. 
Many other Roses, however, vary in a 
similar way. 
The plant is of dwarf or medium 
height, and therefore well adapted for 
small gardens, as it takes up but little 
space, yet furnishes a great amount of 
flowers, either for garden decoration or 
for cutting. It may alw'ays be planted 
where mere garden decoration is the re¬ 
quisite, and where Roses are growm in 
beds it serves the purpose well. In fact, 
it may be used for most purposes, except 
where height is required. Owing to its 
moderate growth, it is not so well suited 
for making standards as the more vigor¬ 
ous growing varieties. 
Hybrid Tea Rose Liberty. 
f 
Oenothera caespitosa. 
Though a perfectly hardy plant and 
admirably adapted for rock work, it is 
open to question if the best results are 
obtained with this species out of doors. 
We have lately seen this magnificent 
“Evening Primrose” grown in pots, and 
were particularly struck with the size of 
the bloom and generally healthy appear¬ 
ance of the plants. Several specimens 
in 5-inch pots were over a foot across, and 
were carrying three or four flowers each, 
the individual blooms being from 5^ to 63 
inches across- Each bloom lasts for three 
or four days, or rather nights. On the 
first day the pure white flowers open about 
sundown and close soon after sunrise. 
While open, a most delicious fragrance 
is emitted. This operation is repeated on 
two or three successive nights. After the 
second day the blooms become, suffused 
with a rosy pink, and .the effect of several 
flowers on the same plant in . various 
stages of development is charming be¬ 
yond expression. 
Outdoors, the dew, wind and rain soon 
make sad havoc of the fragile blossoms, 
but under glass the delicate beauty, is 
preserved, and the beauty and fragrance 
may be more conveniently enjoyed. . The 
soil used should be. of .good.quality, with 
a free admixture of silver sand. 
.. Erica. 
