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Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9304, 3 January 1896, Page 6

Propagating Hardy Perennials.—Many Eerennial herbaceous plants are propagated y taking up the roots and dividing them in the fall of the year. Others are easily propagated by sowing the seeds ; but even these methods of propagation are not always rapid enough for the desired increase of any particular plant. It is not generally known, says a writer in a transatlantic contemporary, that plants can be made by cutting up flower stems. For this purpose the flower stem is allowed to grow, up to a blooming point ;but when that is reached, the flower buds must be entirely cut away. This throws more vital energy into the flower stem, and welldeveloped buds form in the axils of the leaves. In a few weeks, after the flowering heads have been pinched out, the flower stalks may be separated for cuttings. Pieces with two or three buds are sufficient. In this way such plants as the hardy Phlox may be very rapidly increased. The various kinds of Lilies can be propagated in the same manner.

Encourage the Children. —What a pleasure it is to a father or mother who is fond of flowers and gardening to have their children take an interest in Flora's treasures. How delighful it is to walk in the garden in the cool of the evening with a warm, soft little hand in yours, leading you to where the favourites grow, a pair of interested • and - laughing eyes flittering between yours and the blossoms, and a sweet little voice piling you with questions and comments about the Pansies, the Roses, the Poppies, and the flowers. While all children love flowers, „ some are more emphatic than others in their fondness for them, for the love is stronger. At Dosoris many children come to us for flowers ; they want a few for the church, or the school, or some particular friend, or a funeral, or not infrequently for themselves, for they love them. And they all get some. Be they rich or poor, young or old, stylish or in tatters, acquaintances or strangers, it is immaterial to us, they get some flowers. The other day we came upon a ten or elevenyear old boy down on his hands and knees smelling .the Pansies in the borders; he was all alone, and a stranger to us. On enquiry we found he lived some three miles away and came here after school hours alone and on purpose to see the flowers. Such children should be encouraged.— American Gardening^ Canker In Fruit Trees.—lt may interest those who are troubled with this disease in Apple trees to know the result of an experiment made last winter .at Gun ton with a view to its extermination. A row each of Lord Suffield and Potts' Seedling Apples in bush form were affected with this malady, so much so, indeed, that there was scarcely a clean branch visible in any one of the trees. Soluble paraffin was mixed with dry powdered clay and made of the consistency of paint, being afterwards- well rubbed into the affected parts with a rough painter's brush. The result was that all the diseased portion healed up, and at the present time the trees present a very healthy appearance. No doubt canker is often encouraged by the roots being in an unsuitable medium, but some varieties are prone to canker in any soils and when well treated, hence the value of the above remedy.— Garden.