68 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



The cuttings are dibbled thickly into the sand, and after- 

 wards watered in with tepid water. If all goes well, they 

 make roots in little more than a month, and they are 

 then ready for potting off. 



Another method by which I have been successful in 

 raising many thousands of young plants, is to insert four cut- 

 tings around the sides of 3-inch pots, in a compost consisting 

 of two parts sharp sand, one part loam, and one part leaf- 

 mould, the loam and leaf-mould being first sterilised. The 

 pots are thickly surfaced with sand, and a little sand is forced 

 into the holes made by the dibber, in order that the base 

 of the cuttings shall rest on this material. The pots are 

 plunged to the rims in a bed of moist cocoa-nut fibre, in a 

 propagating pit having an atmospheric temperature of 55 

 to 60 and a bottom heat of 60 to 65. The cuttings are 

 given a thorough watering to settle the soil, and, as a rule, 

 no more water is necessary until the cuttings are rooted. 

 It is necessary to provide shade from bright sunshine, and 

 to wipe the moisture from the inside of the lights each 

 morning and afternoon. Should excessive vapour arise 

 in the pit, afford a little ventilation until it is dispelled, 

 and thus prevent damping. When the cuttings are rooted, 

 the pots should be stood upon the surface of the bed, 

 and by degrees the lights should be tilted, and the young 

 plants gradually inured to the general atmosphere of the 

 pit. After they have been in this position for a few days, 

 they should be removed to a stage close to the roof glass 

 in a house having an atmospheric temperature of 55 by 

 night, and 60 to 65 by day. 



Yet another method, and one which amateurs usually 

 practise successfully, is that of the frame and old-fashioned 



