64 LADIES' FLOWER GARDENER. 



ately, just to keep them moist ; and shade them from the hot sun 

 in the day. If p'pings are covered with a hand-glass, they root 

 earlier, by three weeks, than those which are exposed. 



Laying, piping, and slipping, are done in June and July. The 

 plants will be well rooted, and fit to plant out, in October. 



The operation of slipping is easy. Tear the top shoots of the 

 plant to be so propagated, gently from their sockets ; hold the 

 shoot between your finger and thumb, as near the socket as you 

 can, and it will tear as easily and neatly as you carve the wing 

 of poultry or game. Place the slips in water for a few days 

 previous to planting them, like pipings. They will root in six 

 weeks or two months, if kept shady and moist. 



Cuttings must be made of shoots of the last year's growth of 

 roses, honeysuckles, &c., and planted in February. Choose the 

 strong shoots, and do not cut them less than six inches long. 

 Cut them with your knife in a slanting direction. Plant them in 

 a shady place, each cutting half way in the ground, which should 

 be cleaned, and well dug and raked, to receive them. Cuttings 

 made in February will root well by October. 



Cuttings of flower stalks, such as scarlet lychnis, should be 

 done in May, June, and July. Take cuttings from the youngest 

 flower stems, and plant them carefully in nice mould, like pip- 

 ings. These flower cuttings should be in lengths of four joints 

 each. Covering them with a hand-glass raises them very quickly. 

 They root in two months. 



Where hand-glasses are not to form any part of a lady's 

 arrangements, oil-papered frames are equally useful. I have 

 seen very economical and useful frames made of bamboo, in the 

 form of hand-glasses, covered neatly with glazed white cotton or 

 linen, or horn paper, made by a lady with great celerity and in- 

 genuity ; and her cuttings and pipings succeeded under them 

 adTiiraHy. Whatever shelters cuttings and pipings from the 



