42 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
It has beyond question taken a number of years to obtain 
what florists term a “ strain ” of flowers likely to lead to great 
results; and in all probability A . majus , the largest of the indi¬ 
genous species, has been the original parent of many present 
varieties. These, by judicious crossing and much care, have 
again produced other and better varieties, until now we may 
select a very considerable number of distinct and beautiful 
kinds. The value of such plants, in a gardening view, is easily 
conceived and generally acknowledged : they are ornaments 
suitable for almost every situation out of doors; the beds of the 
flower-garden, the borders of the shrubbery, vases, rock-work, 
ruins, or even old walls, may alike be made verdant at all times, 
and truly beautiful through the autumnal months: nor are they 
more particular in the choice of soil than of situation, only 
requiring that it be not excessively wet, and their management 
may be entrusted to the merest tyro with a certainty of success. 
There are a few of the choicer sorts that from very high breed¬ 
ing have engendered a somewhat delicate constitution; these 
require to be planted on drier soil, or to be protected from 
excessive cold and moisture through the winter, otherwise the 
majority are sufficiently robust to withstand uninjured the 
severest weather. They may be multiplied indefinitely by 
cuttings, taken from the parent plant in the beginning of 
autumn, choosing for the purpose shoots of a medium size ; 
these, after trimming in the usual manner, should be planted 
under a hand-glass, and in three weeks they will have rooted 
sufficiently strong to be jiotted ; for the first winter it will be 
well to preserve them in a common frame, or some may possibly 
be injured by frost so as to spoil their blooming, and then in 
spring, about the middle of March, they should be planted into 
the places they are intended to occupy when flowering: here 
they soon attain strength, and in August, September, and 
October, will make a display amply rewarding the little trouble 
occasioned. Established plants may remain three or four con¬ 
secutive years in the same situations, or indeed until they 
become too large, with no further care, than cutting off the old 
flower-stems, and spreading a little mulch about their roots 
when the borders are dug. 
Seed offers another easy mode of increasing their numbers; 
and when pains are taken to intermingle the pollen of various 
sorts, is highly interesting, from the production of new varieties: 
