168 THE PRINCIPLES OF FLORICULTURE 



before they are inserted in the propagating bench, the 

 cuttings should be covered at once with moist newspapers. 

 Take them to the propagating-bed. Compact sand firmly 

 and evenly. Lay straight-edge on the sand and hold it 

 firmly in place. Draw the putty knife through the sand, 

 deeply enough so the cutting may be inserted firmly, 

 having the space wide enough so no injury to the tissue 

 will be made by crowding (Fig. 19, upper). Space the 

 cuttings far enough apa,rt to insure good air circulation 

 about the base. Press sand firmly about the base after 

 one row has been inserted. Level the sand, again placing 

 the straight-edge on it, and having one side next to the row 

 of cuttings. Rap sharply with the putty knife, to level 

 the sand between the rows of cuttings, then open another 

 groove to receive a second row of cuttings as before. 



After a few rows have been inserted, water thoroughly, 

 and shade with newspapers to prevent wilting. Always 

 remove the newspapers after sundown, and in one or two 

 days they may be discarded entirely. If left on too long, 

 conditions which favor disease are produced. 



Use fresh sand for each batch of cuttings. When the 

 sand has been used once, it should be thrown out, but after 

 exposure to heavy freezing, it may be used again. 



134. Length of time cuttings should be left in sand. 

 Serious injury results if cuttings are left too long in the 

 propagating-bed. There should be a gradual increase in 

 the quantity of plant-food in the soil medium. The water 

 which is given the cuttings from time to time contains suffi- 

 cient plant-food to nourish them until roots one-quarter 

 to one-half inch in length are formed (Fig. 19, lower). 

 The dark green color of the foliage indicates that roots 

 have formed, and the cuttings are then in a condition to 

 assimilate more nitrogenous plant-food. If this is not 



