216 CULTIVATION 



one inch in length of the tender top is enough ; 

 the leaves are cut, not stripped, from the bottom 

 part more than half way up, taking care not to 

 wound the epidermis ; and the base is cut 

 smoothly and transversely off, as the nib of a pen 

 is cut upon the thumb-nail. When the quantity 

 sufficient for one pot is prepared, let them be im- 

 mediately inserted by the dibber, and watered, 

 to settle the sand closely round them ; after stand- 

 ing till the surface is somewhat dry, the striking- 

 glass must be put on and pressed tightly down 

 to exclude the air. 



A bed of saw-dust should be formed in some 

 convenient spot in which to plunge the pots ; and 

 if within a frame, so much the better. They 

 should be kept shaded from the mid-day sun ; 

 and if the mould in the pots gets at any time too 

 dry, water may be given, so as not to wet the 

 tops of the cuttings : the glasses should be kept 

 dry by wiping them as often as is necessary. 



The month of June is the best season for strik- 

 ing heaths, as by this time the young shoots are 

 in good order. Cuttings that were put in early in 



