208 ON RAISING ERICAS FROM CUTTINGS. 



a pure sand, untainted with any mixture whatever. The manner of 

 using it, is to have the pot well drained as usual for cuttings, and 

 then filled with sandy peat, within an inch of the rim ; which must 

 be pressed pretty light, so as not to sink much afterwards ; let the 

 remainder be filled with the sand and well levelled at the top, being 

 also pressed tight ; the whole should then get a good watering to settle 

 it before the cuttings are inserted ; then proceed to make the necessary 

 quantity of cuttings to fill it, and the sand will be soaked sufficiently, 

 and fit to receive them by the time they are ready. Strong, luxu- 

 riant, or leading shoots, are not to be chosen, as from their redundancy 

 of sap, they are exceedingly liable to damps ; the ends of the lateral, 

 or side shoots, are by experience proved to answer infinitely better, 

 when selected with judgment, so as care is taken to reject any that 

 have in the least degree attained a hard woodiness of substance, or 

 that cut wiry, and tough. They need not exceed an inch in length, 

 two thirds of which is to be divested of its leaves, and finished by a 

 clean horizontal cut at the bottom ; but in taking the leaves off, it is 

 necessary to be careful not to injure the bark of the cuttings, by pa- 

 ring them too close, but rather to leave a part of the footstalk attached 

 to it. When a sufficient number is ready, let them be immediately 

 inserted in the sand with a small neat dibber, something about the 

 size and shape of a goose quill ; they should be pretty well tightened 

 in the sand, aad have a moderate sprinkle of water to settle it about 

 their stems. A proper glass being previously chosen, when they 

 have stood about half an hour to drain, and settle, it should be set 

 on ; pressing it gently on the surface so as to make it perfectly close. 

 If this business is begun in June, which is early enough, they must, 

 (on account of the increased heat of the season,) be plunged in some 

 cool shady situation, where they can be conveniently shaded when 

 requisite : an exhausted hotbed, with a frame, and good lights on it, 

 will answer very well ; or otherwise, the north side of any low wall 

 or hedge where they will be a little sheltered from the noon-day sun, 

 and have the benefit of it morning and evening ; in either place, the 

 pots must be plunged up to the rim in old tan or saw-dust; and in 

 the latter, they will also require to be covered with large cap glasses 

 over the small ones. When potted and watered, they must be set 

 on the kirbs, or other convenient places in the stove for a few days, 

 and shaded until they have established themselves in the fresh mould ; 

 as soon as they have taken to grow freely, let them be removed to 

 the greenhouse ; but observe not to expose them to the open air en- 

 tirely at first, as it might do them a material injury ; on account of 

 which, the lights over them should be kept close than usual for a few 

 davs. 



