86 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



cuttings. These are inserted 4 inches apart, either in a cold 

 frame, or on a south border where protection can be given 

 them in rough, winter weather. The cuttings chosen are 

 those possessing a crown bud, for these are usually plentiful 

 at the time the runners are being removed from the plants 

 grown for winter flowering. By this method strong young 

 plants are ready for planting out by the first week in April ; 

 they have a great advantage over plants propagated by 

 division in May, as practised by some growers. In April 

 the young plants are planted in a border. Before planting, 

 a liberal supply of decayed leaves is dug in, in preference 

 to any kind of farm-yard manure. During summer the 

 plants should be syringed every afternoon or evening to 

 encourage clean, healthy growth. Red Spider is the result 

 of poverty caused by want of moisture. Slight dustings 

 of soot should also be given during damp weather. The 

 runners must be removed from plants intended for winter 

 flowering in frames, so that good, plump crowns may be 

 ready for planting in pits by the first week in September. 

 The hotbed is composed of leaves, saved for the purpose, 

 and trodden lightly together to the depth of 3 feet or more. 

 Over this bed we place the compost 9 inches deep, consist- 

 ing of loam and leaf -mould in equal parts. The leaf-mould 

 is collected from plantations where the leaves have lain 

 without fermenting, and thus they have not become sour. 

 " The plants are carefully lifted for planting in the pits, 



