16 THE TREE PROPAGATOR AND PLANTER. 



pots should be half filled with broken potsherds, and 

 then filled up to the top with a fine sandy peat compost 

 quite firm. The cuttings should be inserted an inch 

 apart all over the pot, allowing sufficient space for the 

 striking-glass to go over them and inside the rim of 

 the pot. Settle the soil about the cuttings by watering 

 them with a fine rose water-pot, and let them dry off a 

 little ; then put the glass on, and shade them from the 

 hot sun with a sheet of paper. "Wipe the bell-glass 

 occasionally, when there seems too much damp con- 

 densed on the glass inside, and then put the glass on 

 again immediately ; a little water will be necessary at 

 times before the cuttings have struck root, which is 

 rather a slow process. As soon as they have rooted, 

 which may be known by the growth they make, re- 

 move the glass, and pot the cuttings off a week or 

 two afterwards, using small pots and the same kind of 

 soil : nip out the top of each young plant ; this will 

 induce dwarf, bushy plants to be formed while they 

 are young. 



The raising of the Acacia from seeds is attended by 

 many circumstances requiring attention. The seed is 

 extremely hard, and must either be subjected to a 

 strong moist heat, or be soaked in very warm water for 

 twelve hours before sowing it, then covered a full half- 

 inch with the soil, which must be sandy, and set on a 

 brisk heat to vegetate. I put the seed in a mug, basin, 

 or cup, and pour moderately hot water on it at night ; 

 let it stand, and sow the seed the following morning. 



The Pine-tree and Fir-tree. 



Our home-grown Pine is not so good as that im- 

 ported ; still it may be, and is, of great use in dry 

 rough work. The common Scotch Pine is as good as 

 any for general use, and will grow to a fair size in any 

 situation. The Larch is one of the most useful of this 

 class, and it is no doubt a good speculation for large land- 

 owners to plant it extensively on their waste lands. 



