FL011ICULTURAL HINTS. 
165 
marked with bright silvery white ; the flowers, as is the case 
with all of the class, are insignificant, and quite of secondary 
esteem. 
Mrs. Mayler. This kind has a habit nearly as robust as that of 
Emperor ; both foliage and flowers are, however, several shades 
paler, which sufficiently distinguishes it. 
Prince of Wales. So far as I am yet able to judge, this 
variety fully bears out its character: of the habit my present 
acquaintance does not permit me to speak, but the few flowers 
yet produced have been very brilliant and well formed. 
The Elms. S. Tuiiner. 
FLORICULTURAL HINTS. 
The first thing to be done this month is the propagation of 
pinks. As a primary step, let a bed be prepared to receive the 
cuttings, choosing a warm sunny spot, where the soil is tolerably 
good; mix a quantity of clean sharp sand with it to encourage 
the formation of roots, and after thoroughly stirring it six 
inches deep, rake the surface level, and set the hand lights in 
their places. Some propagators recommend a place naturally 
shaded to strike on, but I very greatly prefer a warm position, 
as the process is carried on so much quicker, by reason of the 
heat imparted to the soil, which then acts upon the rootlets in 
the manner of a gentle hot-bed; and of course all necessary 
protection from the mid-day sun may be provided artificially, 
retaining for the benefit of the cuttings its beneficial influence 
in the morning and evening, the advantages of which are so 
great that in little more than half the time taken up in striking 
on a north aspect, better plants will be produced with a smaller 
proportion of failures. The medium sized shoots that have not 
produced laterals make the best plants, though upon a pinch the 
strongest of the latter are sometimes employed, a practice by no 
means commendable. Lateral growths never produce plants 
strong enough to bloom well, and are only to be valued as an addi¬ 
tional means of obtaining stock in the succeeding year. A very 
sharp knife with a thin blade is essential to make the cuttings pro¬ 
perly, for if at all bruised in the operation they die ; take them 
about five or six joints long, and trim the foliage from the three 
