December: Fourth Week 



STARTING PLANTS FOR NEXT SUMMER'S 

 FLOWER GARDEN: HOW TO MAKE AND ROOT 

 CUTTINGS; POTTING AND CARE 



About the turn of the year you must begin to take 

 thought for a supply of plants for next summer's flower 

 garden. The chief advantage of growing one's own plants 

 is the fun of doing it. In addition, there is the pleasure of 

 being able to perpetuate some favorite flower that cannot 

 be duplicated when one buys plants in the spring. In a very 

 limited amount of space it is possible to start plants which, 

 if bought in the bedding season, would cost several dollars. 



Select such of your own plants as you care to propagate. 

 To start a couple of hundred plants takes little room, for 

 they may be placed, at first, about as close together as you 

 can pack them. Do not, however, be tempted to start 

 more than you can care for properly afterward, for each 

 cutting after it is rooted will have to be given at least four 

 square inches of room, whether it is placed in a pot or in a 

 flat; and within a few more weeks it will need twice as much 

 room. By the time the second shift is required, however, 

 some of the plants can usually be put into a hot-bed or a 

 cold-frame or placed in sunny windows, as there will be little 

 danger of their being pinched by extremely cold nights. 



If your plants are in the right condition your cuttings 

 may be prepared at any time and rooted at once. Often, 

 however, it is desirable to start the plants into more active 

 growth before the cuttings are taken. Plants of all kinds 

 require a resting period or vacation some time during the 

 year. During this period growth is checked. Softwood 

 cuttings from plants in this condition are not so likely to 

 root readily as cuttings from plants in active growth. It is 



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