48 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



as too much moisture, even from evaporation, is injurious. 

 No further water should be needed till the young plants 

 are rooted, except that they may receive a very slight 

 spraying overhead on bright mornings. 



The frame or house must be kept close till the plants 

 are rooted, but it may be advisable to admit just a very 

 little air to the frame each evening, closing the ventilator 

 again in the morning ; this will allow any superfluous 

 moisture to escape and check any tendency to damp. 



When the cuttings have commenced to make roots air 

 must be admitted, increasing the amount gradually till it 

 is found that they will bear removal from the frame to 

 a cool greenhouse or pit, where a slight amount of heat 

 can be employed in the event of severe frost, allowing 

 the plants plenty of space between them to ensure their 

 remaining stocky. In a week or two after removal from 

 the cutting frame they should be in a fit condition for 

 their first shift. If rooted singly in thumbs 543 (4-inch 

 pots) will be a suitable size, if in boxes, or several in a 

 pot, medium or large 6os (2^- or 3-inch pots) will suffice. 

 The soil at this potting must still be fairly light, as, for 

 instance, 4 parts loam, 2 parts leaf mould or well rotted 

 manure, and i part sand, adding two shovels of wood 

 ashes, and a 6o-size pot of bone flour to each bushel of 

 the compost. 



The soil must be made firm, but care should be taken 

 not to injure the roots during the process of potting. On 

 returning the plants to the house or frame, give sufficient 

 space to ensure a free circulation of air among them ; 

 the days being still short, the least tendency to crowding 

 would cause the plants to grow weakly and lose the older 

 leaves early in the season. 



