CHAPTER XXXVn 



CUTTINGS AND HOW TO STRIKE THEM 



NOW for the cuttings 1 It will naturally be asked at the 

 outset what are the plants which the man with a small 

 garden and unheated glass structures can hope to propa- 

 gate with success. The beginner in the art of propagation will 

 probably give expression to the doubts and problems that con- 

 front him somewhat in the following form : 



(1) What plants can I raise from cuttings in small (26 in. 



by 21 in.) garden frames WITHOUT BOTTOM HEAT ? 



(2) When should cuttings be taken ? 



(3) Should the blooms be taken off the plants before cutting ; 



if so, how long before ? 



(4) When the cuttings are in the frame should the latter be 



kept closed ? 



I will first of all attempt to answer these pertinent questions 

 generally and then deal hi detail with the methods of propagating 

 a few of the plants that usually find a place in the amateur's 

 garden. 



The solution of the problem what to propagate hi a small cold 

 frame depends largely upon the character of the present occupants 

 of the garden border. Shrubby calceolarias are among the bed- 

 ding plants that are probably easiest to propagate, and the 

 gardener will devote at least a small portion of his somewhat 

 limited accommodation to maintaining a stock of this excellent 

 plant. 



If at the end of August his garden is gay with violas he should 

 on no account neglect to propagate a batch or two of cuttings. 

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