1 70 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



should be observed. Potsherds and pieces of fibrous turf answer the 

 purpose admirably, keeping the drainage open, and the soil sweet. 



The compost for the cuttings should be fibrous loam, well-decomposed 

 leaf-mould, and coarse silver sand or road grit in equal proportions. Be- 

 fore these ingredients can be used, pass them through a sieve with a half- 

 inch mesh, and mix them thoroughly afterwards. The residue the 

 fibrous tufts of loam and the coarser and less decayed portions of the leaf 

 soil should be taken care of, as this material will be wanted. When 

 the soil is ready place a small piece of crock over the hole in the bottom 

 of the pot, and cover this with a layer of smaller pieces. Cover the 

 crocks with a small layer of the rougher sif tings of the compost referred to, 

 filling in the soil afterwards to the rim of the pots, and giving the latter 

 a sharp rap on the potting bench to settle the soil rather firmly. A 

 pinch of silver sand should be placed on the soil in the centre, and then 

 with a cedar-wood pencil, or anything similar in shape, make a hole, 

 carrying down the sand when making it, the hole to be of sufficient 

 depth to bring the joint of the first leaf-stalk of the cutting on the sur- 

 face of the soil. The cutting is less likely to fail when the base of the 

 cutting rests upon the soil. Press the soil firmly at the base of the 

 cutting, at the same time giving pot and soil a gentle rap on the potting 

 bench. Label each cutting as it is finished, noting the date of the opera- 

 tion, which may afterwards prove instructive. Go through all the cut- 

 tings in this way until they are completed. When inserting the cuttings 

 in pots, boxes, or on the greenhouse bench, keep them two inches apart, 

 and three inches between the rows. Should the compost be fairly moist 

 no water will be required for some hours. When it is applied give a 

 thorough soaking from a fine-rosed can. 



Best Place for Propagating. The custom in most gardens is to 

 place the pots and boxes containing the cuttings in a cold frame out- 

 doors. The pots, &c., should be plunged in ashes, cocoanut fibre refuse, 

 spent hops, and any similar substance, thus keeping the soil in the 

 pots moist, and also affording protection should severe and prolonged 

 frosts prevail. Stable-litter or bracken should be packed round the sides 

 of the frame to render it more frost proof. The material inside the 

 frame should be of sufficient height to raise the pots well up to the 

 frame-light, so that when the cuttings become rooted the young plants 

 are not drawn and weakly. In frosty weather cover the frame-lights 

 with a few layers of mats, and frosts of more than ordinary severity 

 may be kept out by covering the frame-lights with a kind of thatch 

 made of straw or bracken. The cuttings or young plants suffer, and 

 sometimes damp off through being covered up. This is the case when 

 the weather continues hard for many weeks. On fine and mild days the 

 frame-lights may be slightly tilted to insure ventilation. 



To raise plants quickly, and with little risk of failure, place a small 

 frame on the greenhouse or conservatory bench, and plunge the pots in 

 this in the same way as advised for frames outdoors. The temperature 

 of the glass structure should be between 40 degrees and 45 degrees, but 

 never exceed the latter figure. Packing round the frame with litter, &c., 

 is unnecessary in this case, the hot-water pipes maintaining a suitable 



