140 THE GARDENER. [March 



the object in view, the end of February or beginning of j\Iarch 13 the 

 best time to put in the cuttings. They will root with equal success in 

 a common hotbed or in a propagating-house. The latter, however, is 

 "a real convenience ;" and every place where there is any considerable 

 number of jjlants to propagate, should be provided with a suitable 

 structure for tlie purpose. 



Having decided upon the varieties to be increased, choose for cuttings 

 the top 3 inches of healthy short-jointed shoots. With a sharp knife 

 sever them from the parent-plants ; trim off one or two of the lowest 

 leaves, cut off smoothly the bottom of the cuttings just beneath the 

 lowest bud, and they are ready for inserting into the cutting-pots. 

 Let the pots be clean both inside and out. Each cutting must have 

 a separate pot. The size known as 60's will answer very well. Drain 

 eiliciently with pounded potsherds or wood-charcoal. Use a compost 

 consisting of three parts leaf-mould or peat, and one part clean river or 

 silver sand, well mixed together. Press the compost firmly into the pots, 

 and with a stick for the purpose make in the centre of each a hole, into 

 which drop a pinch of sand for the base of the cuttings to rest on. 

 Then insert the cuttings, and give sufficient water to moisten and firm 

 the soil around them. This done, plunge them in the propagating-bed, 

 where they must not be allowed to suffer through want of water. Care, 

 however, must be taken not to over-water, as in the close atmosphere 

 of a propagating structure they will require very little until roots have 

 been formed. Shading from bright sunshine may be necessary ; but 

 unless the cuttings are in danger of flagging, the less shade they are 

 subjected to the better. If the bottom-heat is steady at about 70°, 

 roots will be formed in about a fortnight. Some varieties emit roots 

 quicker than others, but under suitable conditions all will have rooted 

 in three weeks from the time they were put in as cuttings. As soon as 

 it is known that all are rooted, raise the pots out of the plunging ma- 

 terial. Have at hand a square wooden box filled with some light mate- 

 rial, such as chopped moss, into which replunge the pots. Transferthe box 

 and its contents to a place as near the glass as possible, and where the 

 plants will have the benefit of as much air as it may be deemed right 

 to admit to the propagating structure, of whatever kind it may be. 

 With due attention to watering, let them remain here until the little 

 pots are pretty full of roots, which will be in about five weeks from 

 the time the cuttings were inserted. Keep a sharp look-out for green- 

 fly ; on the slightest indication of their presence, fumigate the j^lants. 

 If not desirable to fumigate the structure in which they are, remove 

 them to a shed and cover with a handglass, into which introduce a 

 few puffs of tobacco-smoke, which will soon destroy the enemy. 



Prepare the following composts, and get them under cover in a warm 



