CULTURE 



A PROPAGATING FRAME 



The site for a propagating frame will hare to depend 

 largely on surroundings. I have seen a brick frame used 

 with hot-water pipes running through. This I would 

 not, however, recommend, for two reasons. It is always 

 difficult to inspect the cuttings regularly (which should 

 be at least once a day), if a keen frost is reigning. Secondly, 

 to turn on hqt, even if mats are used, is an unwise 

 principle, as it will cause the cuttings to droop and 

 the leaves to wither through not being accustomed to 

 artificial warmth ; this would give the cuttings a check, 

 and would tell very seriously on their future progress. 



The best site for a propagating frame is in a cool 

 house, perhaps one that has been used for tomatoes or 

 other such crop the previous summer, and one where 

 frost may be fairly well excluded. 



The frame should be placed within about 2 feet from 

 the roof of the house, and may consist of a few rough 

 boards nailed together with some sheets of loose glass 

 to go over the top. The lower parts of hand-lights 

 make capital receptacles, where other things fail, or 

 even a few bricks built up, with some glass to cover, 

 will answer the purpose. 



In a house with a frame of this description, cuttings 

 may be watched daily, no matter what the weather may 

 be out of doors. 



Ventilation may be given for it will not injure the 

 cuttings, seeing they are enclosed under the glass sheets. 

 The cuttings may be stood on ashes placed in the 

 bottom of the frame, and should be well watered with 

 can and rose when first placed in their new abode. The 

 soil should never be allowed to get dry after this. 



If moisture gathers too much on the foliage and causes 

 mildew or decay, the glass sheets may be left off for a 

 little while each day, preferably in the morning, and the 



