3 o PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



potting soil or anything of that nature passed through an 

 inch sieve will do well. This soil should be made up to 

 within 6 inches of the glass, and it should be given the 

 same slope as the glass. We will suppose everything is 

 in readiness for a start as follows : If the frame is a big one, 

 a piece of broad board to stand or kneel on ; a straight- 

 edge to make the lines ; a dibber ; and some freshly painted 

 6-inch labels. The beginner has perhaps to step over to 

 his friend's garden for the cuttings. He takes the labels 

 with him and gets twelve, twenty, or more cuttings of a 

 variety of a Viola for bedding, or perhaps only one or two, 

 if it happens to be a new and choice variety. In the case 

 of Show and Fancy Pansies, which are treated exactly as we 

 are describing, some half-dozen cuttings of each variety is 

 usually considered ample. The cuttings themselves ought 

 to be taken from the most vigorous plants, and they ought 

 to be root cuttings, which are short growths pulled from 

 the centre of the plant. Only if they are too long should 

 they be cut obliquely across, close under a joint, with a 

 sharp knife. If the shorter ones come away with a portion 

 of the white underground growth, they require no cutting 

 except to remove anything ragged at the base. Many of 

 the growths so pulled out will have little rootlets attached, 

 and in olden days these used to be called " Highlandman's 

 cuttings." 



