152 Commercial Gardening 



they should be dipped in a solution of potassium sulphide 1 oz. to 2 gal. 

 of water as a preventive of rust and mildew. The soil for them should 

 consist of 3 parts light soil to 1 part of mushroom manure; this should be 

 put into herring boxes and rammed firmly, keeping the soil 1J in. from the 

 top. Fifty-five cuttings usually go to a box. A hole 1J in. deep is made 

 with a dibber for each one, the cuttings being inserted, and the soil pressed 

 firmly round the sides and base; it is very necessary that the base should 

 touch the soil, or rooting will not take place, and the cuttings will wither. 

 The boxes may then be labelled with the number or name and the cuttings 

 watered in, a good soaking being given. 



The best place for them is a pit in the house, made by putting two 6-in. 

 boards on edge and laying lights over. Failing this, sheets of paper or 

 glass should be spread over the boxes to prevent the cuttings from flag- 

 ging. A little flagging is beneficial to encourage rooting; slight dampings 

 with a syringe once or twice a day will keep this from going too far. An 

 occasional watering, however, will be necessary to keep the soil moist. All 

 decaying foliage should be picked off at once. When the actual rooting 

 has commenced, more air should be allowed, and the boxes given greater 

 space. When the cuttings are firmly established, all the air possible should 

 be given them, the temperature being kept at 45 to 50 F., and everything 

 done to ensure a firm and stocky growth. 



From the boxes the usual market practice is to pot the cuttings direct 

 into 48's (5 in.), putting two or three plants into each pot, according to the 

 variety. For incurved varieties it is better to pot singly into 60's (3 in.), 

 being careful to keep the young plants well up, as thoroughly ripened wood 

 is most essential. A mixture of 3 parts of loam to 1 part of mushroom 

 manure, to which the addition of a 48 (5 in.) potful, both of lime and bone 

 meal, to each barrowload will give good results. They should be potted 

 firmly, the pots being filled to within f in. of the top, using only a flat 

 stopper to cover the hole in the pot. After potting they should not be 

 watered till absolutely necessary, but soaked thoroughly when they are. 

 As soon as the roots reach the sides of the pots the plants should be put 

 into a cold pit if the weather is favourable, of course making ample pro- 

 vision for covering in the event of a frost. From the middle to the end of 

 March is the usual time for shifting to the pits, and once there they 

 do not require a great deal of attention. Careful watering, full air on 

 sunny days, indeed plenty of air at all times except when frosty; care 

 in giving the growing plants needful space; an occasional scraping of 

 the surface of the soil, and removal of weeds; these are some of the chief 

 things a grower should attend to if he desires to produce good and credit- 

 able plants. 



The final potting cannot commence till the third week in May; but 

 everything ought to be prepared in readiness, all the required pots should 

 be cleaned and crocked, soil got ready, and potting benches set up. With 

 new and choice varieties a shift from a 48 (5 in.) pot to a 32 (6 in.) is 

 often worth while, to keep the plants moving. A careful eye should be 



