Propagating and Shipping Young Stock 



As fast as the cuttings are removed from the plants they are taken to a 

 cool room and laid upon a table, and immediately dampened and covered 

 with moist paper. They are kept moistened and cool while underij^oino- the 

 process of preparation, and until they are placed in the sand are not exposed 

 to drying winds nor allowed to wilt. But when ])laced in the sand they are 

 more plump and brittle, if anything, than when taken from the i)lant. 



I much prefer taking the cuttings in the early part of the day when 

 the plant is fresh and plump. I do not consider cuttings taken late in the 

 day, when the plant may be somewhat wilted, as good for propagating 

 purposes as when taken from the plant when in a fresh, brittle condition. 



In preparing cuttings the little splint of bark at the heel is taken off 

 just a shade below the heel with a very sharp knife. The short curled leaves 

 at the base of the cutting, wherever they will interfere with putting it into 

 the sand easily, are also removed, and with very long cuttings the tips of 

 the foliage are trimmed off. 



Putting the Cuttings in the Sand Bench 



This is an operation which must be performed, not only with rapidity, 

 but with such care and thoroughness as will secure the firm fixing of the 

 cutting in the sand, and the packing of the sand about the base of the cut- 

 ting so firmly that the air cannot get at the base where the callous properly 

 forms. 



The sand in the cutting bench is sprayed with a fine rose until it is 

 thoroughly moistened to the bottom of the bench. The sand is then com- 



Putty Knife. 



pacted with a special tool made for the purpose until the bench is firm 

 and hard throughout. There are two simple tools used during the opera- 

 tion ; one is the straightedge, which is made long enough to reach across 

 the bench, and which is usually about half an inch in thickness, and one 

 and a quarter to one and a half inches in width. The second tool is an 

 ordinary wide-bladed putty knife, about eight inches in length. (See accom- 

 panying engraving.) The straightedge is laid upon the sand and given 



c 8i 



