, 1884-11-22

that one was shortened others recommend
only to pull off the lower leaves, and these
are probably right. Many successful grow
ers allow not only the upper leaves of the
cutting to remain, but also the flower, and
find that cuttings made with thefOwer upon
them are the best. Some amateurs prefer
slips to cuttings, that is they prefer to slip
off a small sprig just where it leaves a larger
stem. In this case a rather solid base is
drawn oft with the twig. which is supposed
to be an advantage i'll keeping up vitality
till the slip roots. All writer's agree that
the cutting or slip, as the case may be,
should be fixed firmly in the soil. AS to
the kind of soil, some insist on sand alone,
others on having a layer of sand on the top.
Sand used in either of these ways may be
good, but doubtless many plants are raised
without it. The sand when used as a top
layer is said to suck up super1uous mOis.
ture. 1t the cutting is planted altogether
in sand the advantage is said to be that
the chemical changes often taking place i'll
rich soil, and often injurious to young
plants, are avoided. The best plan is pro.
badly to place the cutting, not too deep,
(say an inch to an inch and a half, in good
soil, and to cover the top with sand. The
box in which cuttings are grown need not
be very deep and the cuttings may be
placed tOlerably close together.
The remarks here made about rose slips
apply more or less to most other plants
having hard stems, hibiscus, gardenia,
c~rotonS, myrtle &c, Lemon Verbena is ca
silly raised by slipping off Young shoots 2
or 3 inches in length and planting them
under a glass.
Raising plants from seeds is an extern
SiVe subject, which could not be dealt with
in a short article. The writer will only
mention an experience of his own in this
matter. The ~mignOnnette of the West IN
dies (L0wsOaia inermiS) a bush with bum
ches of small pretty flowers, most valued
for their sweet perfume; bears on q single
plant OF fair size millions of seeds, and yet
young plants are never, so far as the pre-
sent writer knows, seen around it. 1t Oc.
cured to the writer that this arose from
the seeds being eaten by ants, and accord
ingly he Sowed some seeds in a box pro-
tectrd from ants, and thus raised i'll a
very short time as many plants as he want
ed. English books Oh gardening make
light Of the mischief done by ants, but the
writer's do not know the SwaTmS of those
Industrious but annoying little creatures
with which VT are troubled III the West
Indies. "GO to the ant thou sluggard" is
uOuDlICNS SOOu duN ICc, DuG W ncI nc lllNluS'
triOuS man goes to the ant and finds him
marching off down the side of a box hold
ing in his mouth the identical seed which
has been purchased abroad perhaps, and
sown with much care, he does not regard
him with amiable feelings, or by any means
look upon him as a pattern beast.
In the matter Of stealing flower seeds,
however, the ants, Notwithstanding their
juStIV admired ministry and INGENUITY. are
easily cirCumvented. We take three or
four shallow s%aucers, empty sardine tins
answer well, and filling them with water
place a stone in each, of sufficient size to
stand above the edge of the saucer or tin
and yet small enough to be surrounded by
water. In this way we make for the ants
3 or 4 inaccessible islands, and oil these
we rest our box of seeds. If we now only
remember that water eV9pOrateS and take
care to keep the saucers or tins supplied,
we are safe from at least one kind of thief,
though possibly we may still be robbed by
others, for the enemies of gardeners are
many.
We have spoken of raising plants from
cuttings and seeds. Another method of
procuring them, namely by dividing the
roots, or taking off rooted portions, is easily
applied III the case OF VerbenaS, chrySanthe-
NUNS and others, and with particular IA
cility in the case of bulbOuS-rOOted plants,
like the beautiful Amazon lily.
Our intention, however, Is not to write
a treatise on gardening, but merely to
call attention to a most interesting and de-
lighttul occupation at a time which is ia
VOurable for beginning it, in the hope of
adding to the pleasure of some one or other
of our readers by inducing him or her to