Propagation. 43 



kept rather close, with the cuttings near the glass, is most 

 suitable. If but a limited number are required, the cuttings 

 may be inserted in pots, either singly or otherwise, and 

 placed on a firm, moist surface, such as sand or ashes, but 

 if large quantities are desired an ordinary propagating bed 

 of clean gritty sand must be resorted to, and the same pro- 

 cess followed as for rose and carnation propagating, except- 

 ing only the heat. Firm and healthy short jointed shoots 

 should be selected for cuttings, from plants in good growing 

 condition. Those of a succulent nature do not make the 

 best cuttings, neither do those that have become hard and 

 woody, and growths that have the appearance of flowering 

 shoots should also be avoided, although they will root and 

 make plants on a pinch. 



The cutting should be at least three inches long, and cut 

 horizontally with a sharp knife just below the joint. The 

 leaf at the base may be removed and all the rest retained, if 

 the cuttings are to be inserted singly in small pots. If, how- 

 ever, the cuttings are to be put into an ordinary propagating 

 bed, in addition to the removal of the lower leaf, all the 

 remainder may be trimmed, so that the cuttings can be put 

 close together in the bed and the air circulate more freely 

 through them, and prevent them from damping off. They 

 also have a neater and more systematic appearance in the 

 propagating bed with the foliage judiciously trimmed. When 

 rooted singly in pots, this is not necessary, as the cuttings 

 must of necessity be sufficiently far apart to prevent the leaves 

 touching each other. The small pots that are to receive the 

 cuttings should be filled with a rather fine mixture of equal 

 parts of sand, leaf mold and loam, well drained, with a thin 

 layer of sand on top. With a pointed stick make a hole in 

 the center ; insert the cutting about half its length, and press 

 the soil about it firmly, taking care that the cutting is not 

 bruised or injured during the operation. By this method of 



