LAYERING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1241, 11 September 1875, Page 18

LAYERING.

Layermg, which consists in arfeating the circulation of the sap on its return: to the roots, is one of the most usefulmethods of propagation. In this opera- J tion an upward slit is made half across a* I joint; and by fixing the part so cut infavourable soil, the latent fibre expandsinto a root, and the branch becomes an. independant plant. Choosing themiddle r branoh of the carnation, for iinstahceJ which is first stripped of all branches; below the joint selected, and being furnißhed with a very sharp knife, theoperator begins his incision quarter of' an inch below a joint, passing the blade through in.- an oblique direction to a quarter of an inch above, taking care thatthe cut terminates as nearly as possible inthe centre of the stem ; the tip of thi J . .tongue thus made is cut off -with a clean, r •sharp cut, and the layer pegged down in 1 a little tme, rich mould, not more than an* ;inch under the soil. In the case of roses 1 and other shrubbery plants* all that is re-* .quired is' to run the knife sufficiently through a joint -to make an opening or^ crack near it, and peg down the' wounded' part three inches below the surface, pass--' ing the-soil:alightly round it, and leaving that.part of the branch above the soil as' .erect as possible. When the roots form/:the news plant may be separated from the" parent tree: The operation should •be .performed in autumn.

Happy Thought. —This variety 'ofc' geranium is. the greatest novelty and ,the" most distinct' thing' among pelargoniums!' :It is a"compact : gr,owing variety of the..* zonale section of, the group,', but' the jvariegation of the leaves is in -the centre,: rioi on the ( margin, as in all 'the .other) variegated-leaved sortp in existence before ' it. The centre of each leaf ib cifeamywhite, and the margin bright,green,' and . the" effect; is novel and striking! 1 - It is, [as before said, a compact-groyning", liwarf variety, yet "free, and vigorous,, and ihd\ purplish aalmon 'flowers', VhicK" are freely ' produced on short, stout,* 1 erect u sta'lkß,, have a J very pleasing effect in combination*' with the creamy central blotch and' green' margin of the x leayes, ' Altogether, hail this as the most . distinct thing" among pelargoniums tKa.t has been produced of' late years, or since .the Golden .Tricdlpur. 1 I section was .introduced by Mr .Grieve, 'tli^ raiser of Mrs Pollock. —Nohji' !Britisfi' Agriculturist. ' • '='- 1 Variegated - leaved Fuchsias., — j' Al. though we" have had ,'variegated-Wved ' geraniums in great abundance and variety "> for many years, ij&is only recently that ,^. we could' number fuchsias in our collections. Tlie Usi. com- ," prising all that wejhaye'now 4 is,/even r 'yet]. | short, and such as^tHereare in' therapy 1 of distinct varieties ,' appear to "Havel ob^-f, tamed but a small measure of popularity, \ They are 'unlike the variegated-leaved., geraniums, inasmuch as they ar^generaliy'l less vigorous and free growers green or unvariegated congeners. - Few of., the varilgated fuchsias are ,free r growing , in habit, 'in fact they are generaUy. rather . scraggy ; but as they require moWheat, and usually- treated to the samejas^tiw./j green-leaved varieties, they, can hardly bjsu considered as rightly.treated, or as hayjngif a fair field , for popular favour! " well-grown from cuttings the same. season./ few things are more beautiful,' in* oup „ opinion, than some ©f the variegated- :! leaved fuchsias. Their characterislics.of ' foliage are quite distinct from those of . anything else that is at present' within > our reach.

Lilies Considered. — For a showy v flower bed that will attract .the attention ~ of every, passer-by, and at' the "same, tudi,^ require little care, there is nothing mora ] satisfactory than lilies. Of lajfcer years , florists have paid so much attention to , this family that we can now make a selec-, ; tion of any size, colour, or, I was going to add, season. Indeed^when .we recollect ' the meagre list offered in our catalogues but a comparatively few years ago, wa really cannot imagine how the,, .change has been effected. But, unlika the ehaiige' "in florists'^flowers, this has not been, i, caused by ,the skill of the hybridizer <so l much as by the perseverance of 'tKe-j'eol- ■ lector. Chiefly to California and Japan ' are we indebted for -the noble improve- ' ments in this flower — countriesj'in x 'fact, ' ■ to which we look for everything ' that 'v"/ superb in Flora's kingdom. " ' " !

Messrs Chaplin and Co. announce thit pM- / sengers by Cobb and Co.'s coaches " to ' anel m from Dunedin, Tokomairiro, Lawrence/ )f ind V Clyde, will be conveyed to and from TdkeV ' J mairiro by rail. ", Passengers to and'Jfrom- ? Mataara and Iriyercargill will b» conveyed 1 ' to and from the terminus on the bank^of tha'. t Clutha River by coach 1 , and~ thence by- mvL v * By this arrangement, it' will be seen' thai a; '*" daily mail will be established to 1 wtt l '6«ai' 1 luvercftrgill,