48 THE TREE PROPAGATOR AND PLANTER. 



sorts. All the species may be propagated by seed sown 

 in the month of March or April, in drills 3 inches 

 deep, in good light sandy soil, and somewhat shaded. 

 They should be kept moist until up, but not supersatu- 

 rated with water. Cuttings of the last season's growth 

 taken off with a heel of the old wood will strike freely 

 if inserted under a handlight during the month of Sep- 

 tember in a shady border, and in a line compost of peat 

 and maiden soil. Cut them at right angles just below 

 the base of the young wood with a keen trimming-knife, 

 and trim- the leaves off half-way up the cutting, and 

 insert them 2 inches apart up to the leaves ; water to 

 settle the soil about them. Let them dry off a little, 

 and cover them with a glass. Suckers may be often ob- 

 tained from most of the sorts, and they may also be 

 multiplied by layers. 



The Furze (Ulex) {Fabacece). 



The double-blossom Furze is a very beautiful shrub 

 for a lawn, as an isolated object ; but when it is planted 

 in conjunction with anything else, it loses its beauty 

 as a shrub, and soon becomes a thing in common with 

 confused border shrubs, and even gets ugly. It should 

 be allowed a clear open space on the lawn, and care- 

 fully cut in with the knife, or, what is better, the 

 pruning-shears, so as to keep its symmetrical character, 

 which is a dwarf compact bush. If the Furze, whether 

 single or double, is left to itself, it will soon get beyond 

 what is ornamental or desirable. 



The double-flowered kind is only propagated by cut- 

 tings, and must be done with the short growth of the 

 last season, and one-half the cutting divested of its 

 leaves, or rather spines ; the base of it being cut smooth 

 with a keen-edged knife, and inserted in fine-sifted peat 

 and maiden soil of equal parts, with a portion of silver 

 sand, under a handlight. This should be done in the 

 month of October or in the spring, in a shady spot, and 

 one not liable to too much wet, i.e. where there is 

 stagnant water, nor under drips of trees or build- 



