ROUTINE WORK 135 



thriving gives an infinity of pleasure by association and by 

 pride of skill. It is here that the bell-glasses come in as 

 valuable auxiliaries. A cutting has twice the chance of 

 striking if it be kept "close," as it is then sheltered from 

 trying variations of temperature, for its well-doing depends 

 largely on the leaves never losing their freshness and remaining 

 as far as may be in workable order. It may possibly 

 recover if put in water to revive after it has become limp, and 

 do well, but it is safer far, seeing that its leaves are its lungs, 

 never to let a cutting flag, so that there may be no interference 

 with the work of forming a callus. This term is applied to 

 the granulation of the tissues at the base of the cutting, and 

 shows that healthy action is going on, which will soon be 

 followed by roots. As a rule, a cutting will root much more 

 rapidly under a bell-glass, but the close treatment does not 

 answer in every case. A pelargonium, for example, roots 

 much more freely in full exposure to sun and light, and would 

 suffer from the damp still air of the bell-glass. It is very 

 necessary, in all cases, to lift the glasses at least once a 

 day to wipe off the condensed moisture within them, other- 

 wise the cuttings are apt to " damp off." It is difficult to 

 give any very definite rules as to the uses of bell-glasses. 

 Failure is probably due, when it occurs, to the cuttings 

 being in an unfit state to strike, but they are, when properly 

 used, indispensable additions to the amateur's garden outfit. 

 It is well always to remember the old garden adage that " In 

 spring you may bid your cutting to grow, but in autumn it 

 must be asked." 



The training and pruning of pot plants are arts which must 

 be learnt by practice. The amateur seldom has courage to 

 use the knife as much as he should, but the beauty and 

 symmetry of most plants depend upon the treatment they 

 receive on this point. Many kinds, both of seedlings and 

 cuttings, have to be pinched back at an early stage to induce 



