52 ALPINE PLANTS 
below the central rosette. Our illustrations show the kind 
of shoots to select, and the manner of “‘ taking ”’ the cuttings, 
which should either be stripped off with a heel of bark from 
the main stem, or cut clean immediately below a leaf-joint. 
Do not tear leaves from cuttings, but cut them from the 
portion of stem that is to be inserted in the soil, using a 

A BRANCH OF CISTUS, SHOWING AT A WHERE SHOOTS MAY BE SEVERED 
FOR MAKING CUTTINGS. 
Left-hand: A trimmed cutting ready for insertion. Helianthemums, Veronicas, Zauschneria, 
etc., may be thus propagated. 
sharp knife, and taking care not to crack or bruise the 
cutting. 
Use sandy soil, and press firmly to the base of the cutting. 
A loosely inserted cutting will never root properly. 
It is rarely wise to subject cuttings of alpines to artificial 
heat, a cold frame being, generally speaking, the best 
