ROCKET. 319 



but all would not do; I lost them all. I tried to 

 part their roots, but, being small and weak, the 

 slugs ate them all op in a short time, as they are 

 very fond of them, especially of their leaves. I 

 tried to increase them by cuttings in the common 

 way, widi as little success. This led me to try 

 another method which I would recommend as a 

 never-failing way of propagating this beautiful 

 flower. If a person has but one plant of Rocket, 

 and is anxious for its flowers, the first thing is, 

 after the flower is beginning to fade, to cut down 

 the stalks, and divide them into ordinary lengths 

 of cuttings ; next to cut off the leaves, and smooth 

 the ends ; then to make three slits with a knife in 

 the bark or rind, longwise, so as to separate or raise 

 the bark for half an inch in length. When the 

 cutting is inserted in the ground, the loose bark 

 naturally curls up, and it is from this bark that the 

 young roots proceed. The partial separation, and 

 the turning up of the bark, seems to promote a 

 tendency to throw out roots. The cuttings may be 

 put into flower-pots, as they may thus be sheltered 

 during winter with more ease, or they may be 

 placed in the natural earth, provided the soil is 

 light and fresh. Covering them with a hand-glass 

 will forward the rooting of the cuttings, or with 

 the aid of a hot-bed they will succeed excellently. 

 I have used this simple way for six years past, and 



