PROPAGATION 27 



time generally mapped out for propagation, this becomes 

 a great boon. 



Suitable materials in the shape of healthy basal shoots 

 can be used, and providing due protection be given, 

 there is no reason why strong-rooted plants should not 

 result. 



However, for the grower who makes a speciality and 

 a hobby of this particular flower, a special time such 

 as, say, the last two weeks in September over which the 

 operation may be spread, will be found the best method. 

 This, of course, is when Spring planting is practised. If 

 the grower requires to plant his Pansies in the Autumn, 

 the cuttings will have to be inserted during June, July 

 and early August, thus allowing plenty of time for good 

 strong plants to be produced for planting out in early 

 October. 



Previous to this, the plants should have all the long 

 straggling growths removed, leaving only the young 

 shoots which are breaking away from the base of the 

 plant. To aid the plants in this endeavour especially in 

 the case of those varieties that are not good bedders a 

 mulching should be placed around each plant and well 

 worked in with the fingers, the soil round about the 

 base having first been lightly forked over and thereby 

 aerated. The finest mulching material is made up of 

 well decayed manure (spent manure from a mushroom 

 bed is splendid), to which should be added a liberal 

 quantity of coarse road grit. The whole should then 

 be passed through a sieve with about a half-inch mesh. 

 If the plants are not doing well, a quantity of good loam 

 well sifted, and added to the above, will greatly assist 

 to their well-being. 



The effect of the mulching will soon be apparent. 

 Acting as an incentive to root action, it will induce the 

 young shoots to throw out roots, and thus cause propa- 

 gation to be much more easy of accomplishment. 



