62 PROTECTION FOR CUTTINGS. 



Cuttings of flower stalks, such as scarlet lychnis, 

 should be done in May, June, and July. Take cut- 

 tings from the youngest flower stems, and plant 

 them carefully in nice mould, like pipings. These 

 flower cuttings should be in lengths of four joints 

 each. Covering them with a hand-glass raises 

 them very quickly. They root in two months. 



When hand-glasses are not to form any part of 

 a lady's arrangements, oil-papered frames are equal- 

 ly useful. I have seen very economical and useful 

 frames made of bamboo, in the form of hand-glass- 

 es, covered neatly with glazed white cotton or linen, 

 or horn paper, made by a lady with great celerity 

 and ingenuity ; and her cuttings and pipings suc- 

 ceeded under them admirably. Whatever shelters 

 cuttings and pipings from the rays of the sun, 

 effects a material purpose. Linen is the best shel- 

 ter in the world from heat, but oiled or horn paper 

 resists rain better. 



Dr. Priestly is of opinion that salt water is very 

 efficacious for cuttings, if they are placed in it for 

 a ie\v days previous to planting. He remarks that 

 it is a custom with the importers of exotic plants, 

 to dip cuttings in salt and water, otherwise they 

 would perish on the passage. 



