Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-08-26
THE EVENING STAR.
PLANfs FOR WINTER.

II is the proper time now to make cuttings
of such plants as are wanted for the house IN
winter. II is much better to have vigorous,
young plants, than to depend upon the old
ones. II is better in most cases to leave the
bedding plants in the ground to die, and de-
pend upon those grown from cuttings; but if
unsuccessful in striking new plants, then the
old ones may he taken up about the time
severe frosts are expected, pstted, cut we'll
back, and put in a cool, dark place, until the
beginning Of winter, when they may be re-
moved into the room where they are to re-
main.
There is very little difficulty in growing
cuttings. Simply stuck into sand or sandy
soil, covered with glass and kept moist,
and in shady place, they will grow without
trouble. This will apply more particularly to
such bedding plants as Geraniums, Argera-
tums, Heliotropes, Petuniss, dc. Roses and
Fuchsias are also easily grown from cuttings
We would not advise any person, not having a
greenhouse, to take in Verbenas for the win
ter, as 1t Is very difficult to keep them. They
are sold so cheaply by the florists in the spring.
that 1t is better to procure them at that time
than to attempt to preserve them. In making
cuttings, some portion should be of old or well
ripened wood, as the green, tender shoots are
likely to decay before striking root.
Do not be in too great a hurry to pot your
cuttings, even when they seem to be growing
vigorously, for in many eases they will put
forth leaves and show every indication of
healthy growth when, in fact, no roots have
been emitted. In setting cuttings any kind
of pot or dish may be used. Cracked tumblers
are useful for covering them or if large YES
sci is used, common pane of glass may be
laid over it. The object of this covering is to
retain the moisture. In order to secure this
they should be kept in a shady place, so that
the direct rays of the sun may not strike them
Various other methods Of striking cuttings
have been adopted. Some recommend laying
them In damp sphagnum or moss, such as is
used in packing plants for transportation;
others recommend putting them in a wide
mouthed bottle, into which sponge has been
put, and which is to be kept constantly moist
Cuttings of many plants will strike root by
keeping the lower portion immersed in water
for several weeks, although most sorts will rot
by this process. Whatever method is adopted,
there should be double the number of cuttings
prepared that will be wanted, as many will be
lost through earelessness or negTect.-G. B. II.
iH the Country GsntLeman''
PLASTER, ASHES, AND EXPERIMENTS
late number of the Boston Cultivator
furnishes the following statements and sugges-
tons; and such experiments would doubtless be
OF much value if carried out, remembering that
no single experiment is sufficient to form a
conclusion, but they must be several times re-
peated, under all varying circumstances:
Mr.. E. l.. Metcalf, of Franklin, informs us
that mixture of plaster and unleached hard
wood ashes, in about equal parts made a little
moist, and kept in heap protected from rain,
for four to six weeks, and then applied to
crops, will generally produce highly beneficial
effect, even where plaster alone would produce
no effect at all, and in all cases the benefit is
greatly increased over that of pure plaster.
Applications of this compound, and of plaster
and ashes by themselves, and of guano super
phosphate of lime, &C., might be made by
sowing breadths across fields. leaving spaces
between without anything. The result would
afford an indication of the comparative value
Of the different substances, and might show
whether any of them could be proftably used
for this purpose.