floral intelligence. 
189 
LETTER-BOX. 
R. M. S.— The propagation of Cacti is performed in this 
manner :—The cuttings, when taken off, are laid to dry for about 
a fortnight; they are then potted in light sandy loam and leaf- 
mould. They require to be kept barely moist till rooted. W hen 
potted off, the soil should be loam, leaf-mould, and old moitar, 
in about equal quantities. 
H. L. — Petunias seed freely in the open air, and succeed 
better treated as half-hardy annuals. The seed should be sown 
early in March, and the plants placed in the open boidei in 
the end of May. New varieties are thus obtained. 
K. D.^We can recommend the following six Pelargoniums : 
Warrior, Life-Guardsman, Comte de Paris, Elise superbe, Dia- 
dematum rubescens, Climax. 
Amicus. — Greenhouse plants require an average tempera¬ 
ture of 45° during the winter. The house being light and airy 
is a great advantage; but you do not state what means you have 
of obtaining artificial heat when required. This should be pio- 
vided for. A covering of mats suffices, if the plants are not veiy 
delicate. 
FLORICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE. 
Royal South London Floricultural Society. The 
best July show that has ever been held took place on Tuesday, 
July 25. at the Zoological Gardens, where there were more 
Carnations and .Picotees staged than perhaps were ever seen 
together before. The judges’ duty was arduous enough, for 
there must have been forty or fifty stands, Die victoi of the 
day was Mr. Edmunds of the Wandsworth Road, who took the 
Society’s gold medal for Picotees; and, but for the accidental 
dropping of a petal, was in for Messrs. Dickson s silvei cup also. 
The Rev. Mr. Mathews of Oxford, who had the next best stand, 
was placed first, although the flowers were rather inferior in 
growth. Messrs. Paul and Son had a most beautiful collection 
of Roses, amongst which were the following pretty varieties . 
Gallica, Nouvelle Provins, Nero, Reine, D’Aguesseau ; Moss, 
Blush, Bath White, Celina, Eclatante; Alba, Eelicite, Parmen- 
tier, La Seduisante, Sophie de Bavarie; Damask Perpetual, 
D’Angers, La Mienne, Bernard, Emilie Duval, Antinous ; Hy¬ 
brid Perpetual, Mrs. Elliot, Duchess of Sutheiland, Madame 
Laffay, Aubernon, Comte de Paris ; Hybrid China, Charles 
Duval, General Allard, Blanchfleur, Lord John Russell, William 
Jesse, Great Western, Madame Plantier; Noisette, La Vic- 
