A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

PTE 488 PUT
ferns. Division and seed. Sandy loam short period, we believe, in charge of
and peat
PTEROCARPUS. Eight species. P.
scandens is a stove climber, and the
others stove evergreen trees. Young
cuttings. Rich light loam.
PTEROCEPHALUS. Four species.
P. dumitorum is a green-house evergreen
shrub, the others are hardy annuals;
the first is increased by cuttings,
and all by seed. Light loam.
PTERODISCUS speciosus. Stove tuber.
Division. Rich sandy loam. Probably
half-hardy.
PTERONEURON. Two species.
One herbaceous, the other annual ;
both hardy. Seed. Light loam.
PTERONIA. Nine species. Green
house evergreen shrubs.
Loam and peat.
Cuttings. '
PTEROSPERMUM. Six species.
Stove evergreen trees. Cuttings. Sandy
loam and peat.
PTEROSTYLIS. Twelve species.
Green-house orchids. Division. Sandy
loam and peat.
PTILOSTEPHIUM. Two species.
Hardy annuals. Seed, in a hot-bed;
and seedlings planted in light open
border.
PUCCOON. Sanguinaria.
PUDDLING. See Mudding.
PUERARIA. Two species. Greenhouse
evergreen climbers. Cuttings.
Sandy loam and peat.
PULMONARIA. Eight species.
Hardy herbaceous. Division. Light
loam.
PULTEN.^A. Fifty species. Greenhouse
evergreen shrubs. Half-ripe cuttings.
Sandy loam and peat.
PUMPKIN. Cucurbita pepo. See
Gourd.
PUNICA. Pomegranate. Two species,
and several varieties. Half-hardy
deciduous shrubs. All are increased
by cuttings and layers, and the less
common by grafting on the more com
bed,
the Hamilton collection, at the Woodlands,
near Philadelphia. His "Flora
Septentrionalis, or a systematic arrangement
and description of the plants of
North America," is a standard work,
and evinces his thorough acquaintance
with the subject. But little is known
of Pursh's personal history.
PURSLANE. Portulaca.
P. oleracea. Green, or Garden Purslane.
P. saliva. Golden Purslane.
Soil and Situation.—A light rich soil
is the one in which they thrive most,
and they must have a warm situation,
as a south border. Sow in February
and early in March, in a moderate hot-
to remain where sown ; and at the
close of March, and once monthly,
during April, May, and the summer
months until the end of August, in the
open ground.
Sow in drills six inches apart, very
thin, and abouthalf an inch deep. The
plants soon make their appearance.
They must be kept clear of weeds, and
thinned to six or eight inches asunder.
In dry weather water is required moderately
two or three times a week.
In general, they are ready forgathering
from in six weeks after sowing, the
young shoots being made use of from
two to five inches in length, and the
plants branch out again.
The hot-bed crops require the air to
be admitted as freely as possible, the
temperature ranging between 50" and
75°.
To obtain Seed.—As a small quantity
will suffice for the largest family, a few
of the earliest border-raised plants must
be left ungathered from ; the strongest
and largest leaved being selected; they
blossom in June and July. They must
be cut immediately the seed is ripe, laid
on a cloth, and when perfectly dry,
thrashed. The refuse is best separated
mon. Light rich loam. The fruit of by means of a very fine sieve
the common pomegranate. P. grana^um,
ripens well against a south wall.
PUNNET. See Basket.
PURSBIA tridentata. Hardy evergreen
shrub. Cuttings. Light well
drained loam.
PUR.SH, FREDERICK, was a native
of Germany, and is distinguished as an
early classifier of our native vegetal)les
PURSLANE-TREE. Portulacaria.
PUSCHKINIA sciUoides. Half-hardy
bulb. Offsets. Sandy loam.
PUTTY is a compound of boiled linseed
oil and whiting, but as it may be
bought in London at half-a-guinea per
cwt., it is scarcely worth the gardener-s
while to make it. One hundred weight
is enough for puttying about three hun-
He immigrated to the United States dred square feet of glass
Old putty may be softened by apply-
somewhere about 1800, and was for a ,