THE GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY 141 



room must be wasted. Seven cuttings of such subjects as Fuchsias and 

 Heliotropes may be, as a rule, accommodated in a four-inch pot. Directly 

 they are put in give them a good watering through a fine rose. The 

 warmest part of the greenhouse should be chosen for the propagating 

 case, and when this structure is kept at a slightly higher temperature 

 the cuttings will root more quickly. Even when the greenhouse is 

 shaded, lay an additional sheet of paper over the propagating case 

 until the cuttings are rooted. As soon as this takes place more air 

 must be given, and the cuttings gradually inured to the ordinary 

 atmosphere of the greenhouse, when they should be potted singly into 

 small pots. Many cuttings strike root in three weeks or so, so that 

 from even a small case a considerable number of things can be turned 

 out during the season. By many people bottom heat is considered 

 necessary for propagation by cuttings, but this is not the case, though, of 

 course, they strike in less time with the additional warmth. 



Though cuttings of most plants may be struck according to the 

 directions above given, there are exceptions, one of the most important 

 being the Pelargonium, or Gera- 

 nium, as it is often called, which 

 is represented in our gardens by 

 innumerable varieties. For these 

 prepare the pots as just recom- 

 mended for other subjects, but the 

 cuttings are treated differently. 

 They should be cut clean off just 

 below a joint, with a sharp knife, 

 and the bottom leaf removed. Then 

 take off the small leaf-like scales 

 that are formed on the stem, as 

 these otherwise frequently prove 

 a source of decay. The cuttings 

 should then be inserted in the pots 

 prepared for them, give a good 

 watering, and stand on a shelf or 

 a similar position in the green- 

 house. Though the leaves will 

 flag, and many of the cuttings after a few days look unhappy, they 

 soon root under this treatment, not damping off or becoming attenu- 

 ated as would result in a close case. Of course the soil must be kept 

 moderately moist. When a pot is prepared for cuttings it is finished 

 off by some growers with a layer of clean silver sand on the top, but 

 this is not recommended, as if at all exposed the sand quickly dries, 

 hence a mistake is often made of watering the cuttings when the soil 

 below the layer of sand is sufficiently wet, and this may lead to disastrous 

 results. 



Another class of plants requiring still different treatment comprises 

 those of a succulent nature, which will not flag however exposed. The 

 cuttings of these should not be inserted for a day after being sepa- 

 rated from the parent plant, as when full of sap they are liable to decay. 



CUTTING OF "GERANIUM 



