^6 PEOPAGATION. 



even if all lived, which cannot be hoped for. There 

 will also be many losses, which the spring- will reveal, 

 and growth will not be vigorous the first year. How- 

 ever, if room is required, some may be lifted with 

 great care, but it is wisest to wait until the autumn 

 when they can be planted out at will. As regards 

 attention, cuttings in the open require but little, a good 

 watering after planting, and w^hilst the leaf is on a 

 regular sprinkhng each day, is all that they require. 

 Keep the surface of the soil broken and protect from 

 severe frost. The branches of evergreens stuck in 

 fairly thickly make good protection in severe weather, 

 also' bracken fern, but these should be removed to- 

 wards the middle of February. 



The growing of cuttings under glass, that is, in a 

 cold frame or a hot-house, presents no difficulty, but 

 demands more care and attention. This method is 

 generally adopted for summer propagation, and is use- 

 ful when the grower is anxious to increase his stock 

 rapidly and secure all the shoots and buds he can for 

 working under glass. Also many of our more delicate 

 sorts are, as from cuttings, better raised under glass 

 than in the open ground. 



Whatever be your variety, select your cuttings as 

 soon as the trees have flowered, or even as soon as 

 the wood selected has lost its bloom. The length of 

 wood need not be so long; three inches is enough, and 

 as before, this should be cut to a heel of old wood or 

 an eye or joint in the wood. Strip off thorns and 

 leaves, leaving only two leaves at the end of the cut- 

 ting selected. Prepare some good potting soil made 

 of equal parts of turf loam, leaf-mould and silver sand, 

 worked through a coarse sieve. Pot up your cutting 

 four to six in a pot, and keep them round the edge, 

 set to a depth of two inches in the soil, leaving two 

 eyes above the soil w^ith leaves. Firm the soil well 

 round the cuttings, water well to settle the soil, and 

 then remove the pots to a cold frame, which must be 

 kept closed and shaded from the sun. Sprinkle twice 

 daily for two or three weeks, by which time the heels 



