222 STOVE AND GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 



they should be left to soak about a quarter of an hour, and then 

 be covered with a bell-glass, which should be pressed pretty tight 

 so as perfectly to exclude the outward air. If there are several 

 cuttings of the same sort, they may be put in one pot, unless they 

 happen to be very large, or curious sorts : but I would advise to have 

 each species kept in a separate one, on account of the difference in 

 time that some of them require to strike roots ; and also, that any 

 scarce or valuable kind should be put only one in a small pot, as 

 they then are not liable to be injured so much by damp; neither 

 do they require to go through the precarious operation of separate 

 potting, so soon after been struck. 



Should it be requisite to have a considerable quantity of cuttings 

 made at the same time, it would be proper to have a one-light box, 

 with close glasses, (such as are used for raising early cucumbers,) 

 placed on a moderate hot-bed ready to receive them. It should be 

 covered with saw-dust or clean tan, about a foot deep, in which to 

 plunge the pots : but if there are only a few done, they may be 

 plunged in any frame among other things, provided there is a mo- 

 derate heat. 



They will now require the most particular attention as to watering 

 and shading. The water must be given twice or thrice very mo- 

 derately until the earth becomes sufficiently moist, which, if once so, 

 will retain the moisture for a length of time, by being covered with 

 the gbiss : but the shading is the principal care whenever the sun's 

 rays fall on the glasses, as nothing will create rottenness sooner than 

 letting the leaves flag, and lie upon each other, which will be the 

 positive consequence of the want of shade. The most advisable me- 

 thod to do it, is, in my opinion, to have a few large sheets of strong 

 paper, to lay over the glasses within the frame ; which at the same 

 time that it shades the cuttings, does not prevent the sun's rays from 

 entering the frame and clearing off any damps that may be accumu- 

 lated therein : whereas, if matts are laid on the outside of the frame 

 light, it is evident they will tend to have the direct contrary effect. 

 However, in the course of a week or fortnight, they will be able to 

 withstand a little of the rays of the morning and evening sun. 



While in an active state, they should be kept rather dry, but not 

 to an extreme ; else the bark will become shrivelled and occasion 

 a very smart falling off amongst them ; on the other hand, should 

 they be kept in an over moist state, the consequence, would not be 

 less disagreeable on account of the damp, occasioned by the air being 

 so closely confined under the glasses ; in this case it would be of 

 infinite service, to have the glasses wiped with a dry cloth about once 



