PROPAGATION OF PLANTS 175 



a sharp knife, and the lower leaves removed. They are 

 firmly put into the soil with a dibber, about 2 ins. apart 

 each way. It is a mistake to leave too many leaves on, 

 and the cuttings should always be inserted as low down 

 as possible. Give a good watering as soon as all the 

 cuttings are in. 



There are several methods adopted to promote the 

 striking of roots, two of which I give here. The first is 

 to put the lights of the frame on at once, and keep shut 

 for at least six weeks ; the glass being covered day and 

 night with a mat. After this interval the mat is removed 

 during the daytime and the cuttings given as much air as 

 possible. 



The second method is this : Put on the lights of the 

 frame and keep them shut for a week or two. Expose to 

 full sunshine when there is any, until the cuttings begin 

 to droop, when a mat must be put on at once to shade 

 them. After the first week or so give a little air and 

 continue to expose the plants to all possible sunshine, 

 shading only when necessary. By about the end of 

 October all the cuttings ought to have formed roots, and 

 should be given any amount of air on all sunny days. 



The care of cuttings in winter is a matter which needs 

 some consideration. Generally speaking, no water will 

 be required at all from September to March. Damp is 

 the great enemy of all cuttings in cold frames, and this 

 can only be avoided by giving air on all possible occasions. 

 Dead or decaying leaves formed on the cuttings should be 

 picked off at once, and if the day is not suitable to give 

 much air for a lengthy period, lift off the lights and turn 

 them completely over so that they rest upside down on 

 the frames. To do this, assistance is usually needed. 

 When evening comes turn the lights over again. The 

 object of doing this is to get rid of moisture which is always 

 found on the inside of the glass after each night. This 

 method is usually quicker than that of wiping the under- 

 side of each pane of glass each morning, as is often 

 recommended. 



