404 THE GRAPE. 



practice of employing propagating-houses, they may be placed 

 either in pots, shallow boxes, which have been well soaked in 

 lime-wash some months before to prevent the formation of 

 mould or fungus, or "directly in beds about three inches deep 

 over the hot-water tanks in the house. The best material for 

 receiving the buds is clean, pure building or lake sand, which 

 is to be kept at all times at a uniform degree of moisture, but 

 never wet. It is the practice with some to place a stratum of 



PIG. 549- 



prepared soil (hereafter described) an inch beneath the wood 

 for the reception of the new roots, and sustaining the young 

 plants for a longer time than sand alone thus obviating so 

 early a removal into pots as would otherwise be required. 

 Each bud or eye need not occupy more than two square inches 

 of surface. When properly imbedded in the sand, a moderate 

 heat should be at first applied, not higher than fifty degrees 

 the object being to commence roots before sufficient warmth 

 is given to expand the leaves. For this purpose also, the 

 temperature of the air in the house should be kept at all 

 times at least ten degrees lower than that of the sand. In a 

 few days from the commencement, the heat may be gradually 

 raised, and as the leaves expand, it may be cautiously in- 

 creased to eighty and ninety degrees. It is of great impor- 

 tance to avoid the checks given by sudden changes, from cold 

 currents of air, cold water, or remitting fire. 



When the roots have reached three or four inches in length 



