1832. To Insert Cuttings

1832.    To Insert Cuttings. Cuttings, if inserted in a mere mass of earth, will hardly throw out roots, while, if inserted at the side of the pot so as to touch the pot in their whole length, they seldom fail to become rooted plants. The art is to place them to touch the bottom of the pot; they are then to be plunged in a bark or hot-bed and kept moist.

1833. The Color of Flowers Changed by Charcoal

1833.    The Color of Flowers Changed by Charcoal. A horticulturist in England purchased a rose-bush full of promising buds - the flowers, however, were of a faded hue. He covered the earth in the pot about an inch thick with pulverized charcoal, and was surprised, some days afterward, to find the blooms of a fine lively rose color. Ho then tried the powdered charcoal upon petunias, and found, that both the white and violet colored flowers were equally sensitive to its action. It always gave great vigor to the red or violet color of the flowers, and the white petunias became veined with red or violet tints; the violets became covered with irregular spots of a bluish or almost black tint. Many persons who admired them thought they were choice new varieties from the seed. Yellow flowers appear to be insensible to the influence of charcoal.

1834. To Turn White Flowers Red

1834.    To Turn White Flowers Red. The juice of the Yirginian pokeweed sprinkled on the white hyacinth will turn it red. The same effect is produced on many other white flowers.

1835. To Preserve Cut Flowers

1835.      To Preserve Cut Flowers. Place a vase containing the cut flowers in the centre of a flat dish, into which a little water has been poured; invert a bell glass over the vase, so that the rim of the glass is covered by the water, thus forming an air-tight chamber. The air surrounding the flowers will be constantly moist, and will remain so as long as the supply of water in the dish is kept undiminished. We recommend those who love to see plenty of fresh flowers in their sitting-rooms in dry weather, to adopt this plan. The experiment can bo tried by inverting a tumbler over a rose-bud in a saucer of water. If some charcoal has been previously steeped in the water, or a small piece of camphor dissolved, it will greatly assist in keeping the flowers fresh. Violets may be preserved for a long time by sticking them with short stems into a glass dish filled with damp silver-sand, and then inverting a tumbler over them.

1836. To Preserve Flowers

1836.    To Preserve Flowers. Flowers may be preserved for many months by dipping them carefully, as soon as gathered, in perfectly limpid gum water; after allowing them to drain for 2 or 3 minutes, arrange them in a vase. The gum forms a complete coating on the stems and petals, and preserves their shape and color long after they have become dry.