246 PRACTICAL GARDENING. 



planted in the pot, so as to liave tlie soil or sand close all the 

 way up to the stem — and without this, cuttings cannot well 

 root; the leaves would in some cases, prevent their being 

 made firm, or by spreading out, would actually lift up the 

 cuttings. 



Among the most efficacious plans that we have adopted, we 

 think the following practice has been successful in the greatest 

 number of cases — that is to say, it has answered with the 

 greatest number of plants ; not that so much trouble or such 

 nice management is absolutely required in a half or a c[uarter 

 of the subjects, but while it is necessary, or at least efficacious, 

 ^vith a great number of plants, it certainly hastens the rooting 

 of even the most common and free-rooting subjects. 



ISTo matter whether it be the epacris, acacia, heath, correa, 

 cameUia, gardenia, ixora, azalea, — in short, no matter whether 

 stove, greenhouse, frame, or hardy subject, let a pot be filled 

 one-third full of common drainage crocks, or nearly so : a bit 

 of moss covering the drainage, though not absolutely neces- 

 sary, prevents the soil from running down among it, and 

 makes the water run freely through, without washing do^vn 

 the compost. On this put the soil, which should be half loam 

 from rotted turves, and half sandy peat with the fibre in it, 

 well mixed, and rubbed through a very coarse sieve ; the pot 

 should be filled within half an inch of the top, and then it 

 should be struck on the table, so as to settle it down a little ; 

 but more should be put in, to make it at the finish level, and 

 half an inch below the rim : this half inch is to be filled to 

 the top, perfectly level with the edge of the pot, and then 

 saturated with water, till it runs through the soil, and out 

 at the bottom. Silver sand is the only proper material for 

 this, and it should be perfectly clean. The pot is then fit 

 for the reception of your cuttings, the size of it ha^dng been 

 selected as appropriate as possible for the cuttings it is to 

 receive. 



Whatever be the nature of the cuttings, the preparation 

 must be similar in many respects. First, consider that you 

 want as little above the soil as will conveniently form the 

 plant, — that is, ensure a growth. Generally speaking, two 

 joints with the growing heart is sufficient in long-leaved sub- 

 jects, such as dahlias, gardenias, ixoras, camellias, neriums, 

 and such like ; and for small-leaved subjects, such as heaths, 

 half an inch above and half an inch below is sufficient. Let 



