178 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



NEW NOTES ON PEOPAGATING BEDDING PLANTS. 



BY JOHN WA.LSBT. 



jlEOPA GATING a stock of bedding plants is not so great 

 a labour as many amateurs imagine, yet it is sufficiently 

 difficult to make a heavy tax on the time and attention 

 of those who have not much practical knowledge of the 

 matter. Eor the assistance of this class of flower 

 gardeners I purpose giving a few practical directions upon propagat- 

 ing the various classes of bedding plants now in the greatest request, 

 and as they will be couched in the plainest terms possible, they can- 

 not fail to be useful. 



Geraniums. — These are well entitled to have precedence over all 

 other classes of bedders ; for in dry seasons nothing can equal them, 

 and they thrive and flower abundantly in the poorest soils. The 

 object of these remarks is not to advocate the claims of bedding 

 geraniums, but to show the way to propagate a stock with the least 

 possible trouble. It is utterly unnecessary to put cuttings of any 

 of the varieties in frames or under glass of any kind. Indeed it is 

 objectionable, because they do not strike so freely as when inserted 

 in the open border. The first steps it will be necessary to take will 

 be to select a south border or an open quarter, and break up the 

 ground and mark it out in three feet beds. When this is done, make 

 the surface smooth and firm with the spade. The object of dividing 

 the border into beds is simply to enable us to go between the bed3 

 to remove the dead leaves when required, and give the cuttings any 

 other little attention that may be necessary. If the soil is heavy, it 

 is as well to mix a little river sand or other gritty substance with the 

 surface soil. In ordinary loams this is not required. The beds 

 being ready, the cuttings are inserted and made firm ; and after they 

 are all put in, they have one good watering to settle everything in 

 its place, which is all the assistance the} r will receive from the 

 watering-pot until they are taken up and potted. The cuttings are 

 put in about an inch apart in the rows, and the rows are about four 

 inches from each other. 



In turning our attention to the preparation of the cuttings, it is 

 necessary to say the cuttings should be taken from the beds in such 

 a manner as not to spoil their appearance. At this time of the year, 

 the cuttings must be cut rather long, so as to have a portion of rather 

 firm wood towards the bottom. When the portion inserted in the 

 soil is too soft and sappy, it soon rots, and the cuttings are conse- 

 quently lost. All the leaves with the exception of two or three at 

 the top should be removed, for many years' experience proves that 

 they root quicker than when they are burdened with too much foliage. 

 The leaves soon die off, and injure the other leaves, and in wet 

 weather very often rot the growing point of the cutting itself, if not 

 removed. 



As a rule it is desirable to take cuttings up directly they have 

 roots half an inch long. They recover from the shift quicker, and do 



