PROPAGATION OF PLANTS. 71 



cult matter during the months of June, July, and August, 

 except such plants as Coleus and others of tropical 

 origin. 



This practice of ventilating the propagating house or 

 hot-bed is, I am aware, not in very common use, many 

 contending that the place where the propagating is done 

 should at all times be kept close. I have tried both 

 methods long enough and extensively enough to satisfy 

 myself beyond all question, that ventilating and propa- 

 gating at a low temperature are capable of producing a 

 larger number of plants during the season than a high 

 temperature and a close atmosphere. There need be no 

 failures; and it has the important advantage of produc- 

 ing a healthy stock, which the close or high temperature 

 system would fail to do in the case of many plants. I 

 have often heard propagators boasting of rooting cut- 

 tings in five days. I am well aware that this may be 

 done, but I am also aware that it is often done in damp 

 and cloudy weather at the risk of the whole crop, and it 

 must be done at a high temperature, which at all times 

 causes the plants to draw up slender, and thus impairs 

 their vitality. 



FUNGUS OF THE CUTTING BENCH. 



Permitting a moderate circulation of air in the propa- 

 gating house tends to prevent the germination of that 

 spider-web-like substance, which, for want of a better 

 term, is known among gardeners as the "fungus of the 

 cutting bench." Every one who has had any experience 

 in propagating knows the baneful effects of this; how 

 that, in one night, it will often sweep off thousands of 

 cuttings that a few hours before were in healthful vigor. 

 But this dangerous enemy of the propagator requires, 



