PROPAGATION AND CULTURE 69 



rather break off, the roots from the plant (see Fig. I), 

 leaving only its trunk, the parts marked a. a. a. a. 

 being the pieces for the fresh supply. Such are about 

 five to six inches long, though pieces of even four inches 

 make good plants. Cut the top level and the bottom 

 in a slanting direction (see Fig. 2). This will guide the 

 planter as to which end must be put in the ground, for 

 I have often found a difficulty in distinguishing the top 

 from the bottom. 



Early in March, work the ground down, so that all 

 clods are broken. If well pulverised by frosts so much 

 the better, and the stifFer the land the better does it work 

 down after frosts. The plants should be so grown 

 during their first season that no older plants could be 

 better for forcing in the following winter. The rows 

 should be eighteen inches apart, and the sets twelve to 

 fifteen inches apart in the rows on well manured and 

 deeply dug land. Let a line be put down in order to 

 have the rows straight. Put the cuttings in a shallow 

 basket, take a short blunt dibbler, make a hole one inch 

 deeper than the cutting is long, twist the dibbler round 

 before it leaves the hole, so that the soil does not fill it 

 up, and put the cutting in, so that it touches the bottom. 

 A boy following a man can do this well, and it is far 

 better and quicker work for two to do this than one, as 

 there is no stopping to pick out the cutting, and if the 

 earth crumbles, as probably it will, the cutting can fol- 

 low the dibbler before the earth is allowed to fill up the 

 hole. If the top be only half an inch under the surface 

 it will suffice. After all is done a short-toothed rake can 

 be put over the rows, and nothing more will be required 

 than frequent use of the hoe to keep all weeds well 

 under, and one small dressing of nitrate of soda, one 

 pound to the square pole, with a dressing of salt as soon 

 as the plants begin to grow freely. I am much inclined 

 to discontinue salt, as is so usual, and apply before the 



