THE AET OF INCREASIXCI PLAIS^TS BY CUTTJXaS. 



^T far the greater proportion of plants tbat are multiplied 

 by cuttings require artificial heat. Nevertheless, cut- 

 tings of many tender plants may be struck in the open 

 ground, or in pots and in frames, without heat, and in 

 every case the mode of procedure is nearly the same. 



The object of this paper is more particularly to put beginners in the 

 way of spring propagation, a branch of horticultural practice which 

 has acquired immense importance since gardening has become con- 

 tracted to an almost exclusive adoption of the bedding system. 

 Very much of what we have to say will be applicable to summer 

 propagation without artificial lieat, though our business is more 

 directly with the propagation of plants at this time of year by 

 means of the heat of a tank or a dung-bed. We suppose the heat to 

 be sufficient and constant. If from fermenting material, there 

 should be a large body of it in a nicely-tempered state, there is 

 nothing so good as a tank, for the operator has thus complete com- 

 mand over his work, and can enjoy the comfort of a warm house 

 while attending to his duties. As a rule, a bottom-heat of 60' to 

 70' will suffice for all kinds of bedding-plants that are struck from 

 cuttings, A temperature of SO' to 90' may be used by persons who 

 have had much experience, but 70' should be the maximum for 

 beginners. 



How TO Obtaits" Cuttings. — As a rule, plants to be propagated 

 from at this time of year should be in a free-growing state. We 

 advise placing old plants of verbenas, 

 petunias, etc., in a moist heat, in order to 

 start them for cuttings, because the best 

 cuttings are those of shoots newly formed, 

 and the worst those from shoots of last 

 year. Indeed, these latter are of no use 

 at all, except in the hands of the profes- 

 sional propagator, and he would never 

 choose them while young shoots were 

 obtainable. If the plants are not freely 

 growing therefore, the propagator must 

 wait for them ; and to promote free 

 growth, the temperature of the house 

 should be kept at from GO' to 70", with a 

 moderate amount of atmospheric moisture, 

 and as much light as possible, so that the 

 young shoots will be of a healthy green, 

 and with short joints. But at this time 

 of year, the plants the amateur intends to 

 cut from will be for the most part full of young shoots, 

 removal of a crop of these will cause the plants to throw out more, 

 and the question arises, how are the cuttings to be made ? 



Suppose we look over a lot of fuchsias now, we shall find them 

 full of little stubby side-shoots all ready to hand, without demand- 



Fig. 1. 



and the 



