178 JOTTINGS OF A GENTLEMAN GARDENER 



them in a cold frame, which should be reasonably low with 

 the ground. Keep each group of pots to itself, and sink 

 them up to their rims in coke dust or ash of fine texture. 

 Keep the frame closed and shaded for a time and then 

 admit air more freely. 



Rock-plants propagated in this manner should remain 

 sunk in the ash and protected slightly all the winter. They 

 can then be planted out in the spring direct into the rock- 

 garden, or they may be grown on in pots till the 

 ' cushions " are much larger. As with most things in 

 cold frames during the winter, careful ventilation and 

 watering are needed, and the lights should be off on all 

 suitably warm days. 



For rock-plants which do not produce rosettes in the 

 month of August, some modification is necessary both as 

 to time and method. But as a rule division of " root 

 stocks " should not be done till autumn. 



Those plants which throw up sturdy young shoots after 

 flowering may be propagated in the following manner : 

 Arrange a frame in a semi-shady part of the garden, well 

 fork up the soil and throw on a quantity of old potting 

 loam. Take the cuttings of strong growths, 2-4 ins. long, 

 cut below a joint and strip off the lower leaves in the 

 usual manner. Dibble these cuttings into the soil very 

 firmly, setting them 2 ins. apart each way. Water well. 

 Keep shaded and watered till rooted, when air can be 

 given freely. They are best kept in a frame for their 

 first winter. 



Shrubs from Cuttings : I have dealt with the propaga- 

 tion of roses from cuttings in Chapter XII, and have also 

 dealt with the propagation of shrubs by layering earlier 

 in this chapter. But there is another way of propagating 

 shrubs, namely by cuttings, which deserves attention. 



This is best done in the autumn. Shoots of varying 

 lengths, from 12-18 ins. are cut off, preferably with a 

 piece of older wood or " heel " attached to them. Ground 

 in a lightly shaded part of the garden should be well forked 

 over and broken up, and the cuttings inserted singly with 



