STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 107 



the bed will speak for itself, but if the "fresh air fund" is not well 

 sustained a lot of sapp3% sickly plants will be the only reward the 

 owner will receive for his labor and expense. 



The hot-bed, though useful in growing some flower seedlings, and 

 particularly in starting dahlias, is more especially profitable in for- 

 warding the interests of lettuce, cabbage and tomato plants, and 

 here allow me to remark that, aside from the greenhouse, the hot- 

 bed I think is the only place where really early and good tomato 

 plants can be grown. 



The cold frame is simply the frame and sash of the hot-bed placed 

 over a bed prepared in the open ground and therefore has no bottom 

 heat. Its uses have already been indicated. 



PROPAGATION BY CUTTINGS. 



The ground included within the limits of my subject would not be 

 covered were I to omit speaking of propagation by cuttings. Special 

 processes of propagation requsite for special varieties of plants can 

 not be given at this time, for I only have time to briefly refer to the 

 treatment which is applicable to a number of the more common 

 kinds in general cultivation as pot or bedding plants. 



The propagating process that I would recommend as most prac- 

 ticable for home use is similar to what is called the "saucer S3'stem." 

 To prepare for it I would obtain from the haidware dealer a sheet 

 iron pan made abcut like an ordinary baking pan, only have it made 

 water tight of galvanized iron if possible and about two and a half 

 inches deep. To facilitate handling this pan which will be quite 

 heavy when filled, it would be well to place it in a shallow box just 

 large enough to hold it. The pan may then be filled nearly full of 

 clear sand, fine, medium or coarse it does not matter which, and then 

 thoroughly wet. In this sand you will stand your cuttings or "slips'* 

 always keeping the propagating pan as much in the the sun as possible 

 and in a warm s-ituation. Never let the sand be otherwise than filled 

 with water, no matter if water stands on it some of the time. Per- 

 fect success in root cuttings demands that the cutting should be in 

 the proper stage of growth when taken off and this must be learned 

 by experience with different species : The only direction of much 

 value that I have ever noted was, that the cutting should be taken 

 when it will snap off readily and not bend or split. The time 

 required for rooting varies greatly with different kinds of plants, but 

 as soon as they have fairly struck root they should be potted or 



