24 THE PLANT WORLD 



planting outside, if planted outside at all. Moreover, the present-day 

 varieties do not throw the same number of cuttings as the older kinds ; 

 neither is their growth and quality so uniform. A more rigid selection 

 is necessary. The cuttings can not be pulled off promiscuously, but they 

 must first have attained a sufficient size and quality before being taken off 

 at all. In the older kinds any of the small lateral shoots gave fairly 

 good results, and the selection of cuttings was a matter of very little 

 importance. 



To-day it is of first importance. You can not now take six or eight 

 cuttings off one shoot, but the weaker growths must all be disbudded 

 some time previous, and only one or two left on one shoot to develop 

 into cuttings. 



The selection of cuttings is a thing of first importance at all times. 

 Not only do your future results depend upon the nature and maturity of 

 the cutting itself, but as like begets like it is always necessary that the 

 cuttings be taken only from plants that are vigorous and healthy, that 

 show no bursting calyx and whose flowers show no blemishes. You can 

 not with safety go into a house to-day and pick off all the cuttings, say, 

 in one afternoon — in a hap-hazard manner — that you are likely to need. 

 It is better to mark all the plants in your collection that are healthy and 

 vigorous, that show flowers of good substance and perfect color, and propa- 

 gate from them only. 



Propagation by cuttings is an unnatural means of reproduction any- 

 way. The tendency of all our Carnations and Chrysanthemums is to go 

 backward in a year or two, and a more rigid selection will be necessary as 

 the standard of our stock improves. 



Again, it is generally considered (although this is but a good all-round 

 guess) that our worst plague to-day — the stem-rot — commences on the 

 cutting bench. There is no doubt much evidence to support this theory, 

 and it would be well, having this in mind, to use every known precaution 

 as a preventive. 



First. Have the sides and the bottom of the propagating bench thor- 

 oughly washed with a mixture of hot lime and sulphur, of a good thick 

 consistency. 



Second. Use only clean sand, and never use the same sand twice for 

 the same purpose. 



Third. Do not have the cuttings over-crowded. This prevents a cir- 

 culation of air, and when one cutting goes off it is sure to infect the 

 others. 



Fourth. Discard the varieties that have shown themselves to be most 

 subject to it — G. H. Crane, for instance — and when your young plants 

 are rooted and potted up put them in another house away from the 

 older stock. 



[to be concluded.] 



