76 THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



posing of tlie cuttings is to dibble them into shallow pans filled 

 with wet silver-sand, as i'ast as they are prepared. The best way 

 for those who may have to leave the cuttings in the pans for any time 

 after they have formed roots, is to prepare the pans with crocks lor 

 drainage, and over the crocks to spread an inch of chopped moss or 

 peat torn up into small shreds, or cocoa-nut fibre dust, and then fill 

 up to the brim with clean silver- sand. The sand should be quite 

 wet when the cuttings are inserted; and when they have been 

 regularly dibbled in with the aid of a bit of stick, or with the 

 fingers only, it should be placed where there is a bottom -heat of 

 G0= to 70'. A temperature of 80^ is allowable when time is an 

 object, but at 60" better plants may be grown; in fact, there is 

 generally too much heat used. From the time of putting the cut- 

 tings in heat till they begin to grow, the temperature must be 

 steady, and there must be regular supplies of water. But water 

 given carelessly will surely entail losses. Probably the sand will 

 retain sufficient moisture for eight or ten days, without needing to 

 be wetted beyond what reaches it in the process of dewing the 

 leaves. To dew the leaves neatly and timely is one of the most 

 important matters. Por the amateur to whom a few minutes is no 

 object, the best way is to dip a hard brush in water, then hold the 

 brush beside the cuttings, and draw the hand briskly over it. This 

 causes a fine spray to be deposited on the leaves, to prevent flag- 

 ging ; but if the water is given from the rose of a watering-pot, the 

 cuttings, if small, may be washed out of their places, or may be made 

 too wet. 



Maxims ox Peopagatixg. — The more heat, the more moisture 

 may be allowed, and, vice versa, the less heat, the less moisture. 

 Hence, if the heat of the dung-bed declines, or if there come cold 

 weather, at once reduce the supplies of moisture. On the other 

 liand, give water freely if the heat is steady and the cuttings 

 are beginning to grow, which is invariably a sign that they have 

 roots. 



Pot them ofii as soon as possible after they have formed roots. 

 In potting, be careful not to break the newly-formed roots. No 

 matter what the plants are, the soil at the first potting should be 

 fine, and with a considerable proportion of silver-sand added. Grene- 

 rally peat and leaf-mould answer admirably as a staple for potting 

 newly-struck cuttings. 



Pot in small pots ; there is nothing gained by putting the young 

 plants in large pots at first ; the soil gets sour before they can root 

 into it. AVhen a few cuttings are struck in common pots, place 

 them next the side of the pot all round. 



If the heat can be regulated at w^ll (as in propagating by means 

 of hot water), begin at (50' ; after three or four days, increase the 

 heat 5', in three or four days another 5^, and so on, never passing 

 75' or 80', and better to stop at 70°. Too quick a growth results in 

 weakness to the plant. 



Cuttings damping ofi" may often be saved by sprinkling silver- 

 sand or peat-dust previously dried in an oven, over the surface of 

 the pans. If mildew appears, give air, and dust the leaves with 



