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THE FLORIST’:? JOURNAL. 
when they are short of surface room for their roots, they are 
weak and spindling, and almost destitute of leaves or branches. 
When potting, a few large potsherds should be laid at the bottom; 
and over them should be laid some turfy peat or the roots of the 
common fern, as that will form excellent drainage, and also pre¬ 
vent the soil from getting among the potsherds; and the roots, at 
the same time, would have to run amongst the loose pots or 
drainage. Great care should be taken in watering, especially in the 
autumn and winter, as the plants are then done growing, and the 
roots are in a state of repose. If much water is given at that 
time the roots will rot, and the plants will become sickly and very 
often go oft; and if they live after the points of the roots are rotted 
off, it will be a long time before they recover themselves. I 
should therefore advise those who have the care of plants of this 
description, to be careful how they use the water-pot in the autumn 
and winter ; but in the spring and summer they may have plenty 
of water. If the plants are well drained, I should never advise 
any person to turn them out of doors, but to keep them in the 
house or pits, and give plenty of air night and day, if the weather 
is mild ; for if they are turned out of doors they often get scorched 
with the sun or drenched with rain, which are both very destructive 
of the health of the plants. 
The best time to propagate this genus of plants is in the spring 
and summer; that is, when the young shoots have made about 
four to five leaves, or rather joints, that is, of the large-leaved 
species; those shoots destined for cuttings should be slipped off 
with the finger and thumb, as that brings the lower joint along 
with the cutting. Any bark that adheres to the cutting from the 
old wood should be taken off with a sharp knife; and the little 
knob, which forms the end of the cutting, will form the roots 
when the cutting is put in the pot. With regard to the small-leaved, 
or, rather, heath-leaved species, the cutting should be taken off 
when the young wood is about an inch and a half long ; they 
should be taken off in the same manner as is recommended for the 
larger leaved species. In the pots in which the cuttings are to be 
put, at the bottom should be placed some potsherds ; and over 
them should be some turfy peat, or moss, to prevent the sand from 
getting amongst the potsherds; the pot then should be filled up 
with very fine white sand, and gently w r atered, then pressed 
tightly down ; and when it is firm, and well settled down, the 
