FRUIT AND FLOWERS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1107, 19 May 1893, Page 7

FRUIT AND FLOWERS

THE PROPAGATION OF PLANTS. Increasing Stock For Summer Use by Slip Propagation. With the generality of soft wooded plants, such as geraniums, abutilons, heliotrope, carnations, verbenas, coleus, etc., the ends of newly formed shoots make the best cuttings. Care should be observed to not take them when too young or pieces that are so short as to be very succulent. It will be seen that in the cut, whiph was originally made for Popular Gardening, abutilon slip (at top) was taken from the branch (to the left) at the internode just below the second joint, counting from the bottom up. But severing the parent branch at that point might seem to be making rather a large cutting; by proper trimming the size is none too large. If it were smaller, the chances are it would be too soft for developing into the best quality of plant. Having removed the slip from the parent, it now requires trimming preparatory to rooting. While in many plants, oke coleus, verbenas, ageratums, cup-

THE BRANCH, THE SLIP AND CALLUS ROOT. heas, etc, it is found that roots are emitted as well if the cutting is squared—that is, trimmed crosswise at the bottom with a sharp knife—at any place between joints, yet with the generality of plants it is undoubtedly safe to square them just below and close to a joint, as shown in the engraving. This, with trimming away the leaves of such lower joint, as illustrated, and in the case of large leaves reducing the remaining lower ones somewhat by clipping off the ends is all that is required to fit the cutting for the sand. For a medium in which to root cuttings clean sand is preferred to any other material. The quickest results in rooting slips are obtained when the sand into which they are set is kept some 15 degrees warmer than the atmosphere above. Where the means of providing bottom heat are not at hand, then cuttings can be rooted, if not so quickly, yet nearly as well in an ordinary pot or box filled with sand. A condition essential to success in any case is that the sand be well drained to obviate any excess of moisture. The cuttings should be inserted in the sand from a half to an inch or more deep, according to their size, firming the sand closely about them afterward. They should be sprinkled over the tops several times daily, with a view to keeping the sand moderately wet at all times and the atmosphere somewhat moist. ■,;

The real roots are preceded by a formation at the end Of the cutting known as callus, the presence Of which indicates a favorable state for rooting, especially while such callus is clean and white. As soon as the roots appear pot the slips in light, fertile soil, and it is an advantage to use rather small pots at first, shifting into larger ones after the roots have pretty well occupied the new element. A Beautiful Lawn. Have a broad,, fine lawn by all means if practicable. The deeper the soil the better the lawn. ' 'lt must have 6 to 8 inches of good soil on top to help the grass in summer by affording the roots sufficient moisture. After grading, make the soil fine with a harrow. Then sow lawn grass seed (a mixture of varieties best suited to your locality) and lightly harrow and roll. Where the lawn is already established, it is an excellent plan to rake off the surface and run the roller over it previous to starting the mower, If a top dressing of manure has not been applied, sowing ground bone over it in early spring will be found beneficial. Bare spots may be godded over, or the soil can be raked over and grass seeds sown. The advantage of the mixed grasses is that the kind best adapted to any special location eventually succeeds and crowds out those which are less fitted for the sitxxation. How to Remove Paint from Wood. Add one pound of washing soda to two of unslacked lime, and, if the paint is thick and strong, one-half pound of potash. Dilute with \\jater until the fixture is a little thicker than whitewash, and apply with a flat piece of wood . folded in a rag, being, careful not to , touch the |