CUTTINGS 187 



tion. There are several ways of inducing the cuttings to 

 form roots, and they vary according to the season at 

 which they are inserted. The greatest success I have ever 

 had from home-grown roses resulted from my treat- 

 ment of various cuttings given to me in Christmas 

 week. Now, by all the canons of rose growing, as laid 

 down times without number, Christmas week is two or 

 three months too late to think of putting in rose cut- 

 tings. But the little slips I received were of new varie- 

 ties, far too precious to be wasted, so I had perforce to 

 adopt unorthodox methods. The success achieved was 

 abundantly testified to, some eighteen months later, by 

 splendid plants, brilliant with blossom. It was, of 

 course, too risky to insert them in soil out of doors, and 

 the shelter of an unheated greenhouse was available. 



I obtained a large flower-pot or small tub, and filled 

 this to within a few inches of the rim with ordinary soil, 

 free from slugs and other ground pests. This was placed 

 on the floor of the greenhouse, though not shaded by the 

 staging. The cuttings, which were from six to eight 

 inches long, were cut across just beneath a joint or 

 dormant bud, to form the base. All leaves were cut off 

 except the two uppermost ones, and these were shortened 

 by half. The cuttings were then inserted singly in small 

 pots, filled with sandy soil and made firm, only one- 

 third of the cutting being above the soil. The small 

 pots were plunged in the soil of the larger pot, and a 

 bell-glass placed over the lot. This was pressed into the 

 soil so that the cuttings were perfectly air-tight. Before 

 the bell-glass was put on the cuttings were watered. 



