GOOD TREES AND SHRUBS 203 



at once. If they are exposed to sun heat or allowed to get 

 dry flagging will result, and the chances of success greatly 

 reduced. It may be noted here in passing that plants from 

 which cuttings are taken should be healthy and vigorous. 



Whether the cuttings are dibbled in pans, boxes, or pots 

 makes little difference, but whatever receptacle be used it 

 should be clean, dry, and well drained. Never place the 

 cuttings sufficiently close to cause damping, as the growth 

 then becomes very weak, and before bushy plants can be 

 furnished it is often necessary to cut them down nearly to 

 the base. After the cuttings have been properly inserted in 

 the soil, and the pots plunged in a warm close case up to 

 the rim in cocoanut fibre or similar heat retaining material, 

 they should be watered overhead and shaded from the sun 

 for a fortnight or so until rooted. When the roots pierce 

 the soil and touch the sides of the pots take them out of the 

 case and place upon the side stages of the house, preparatory 

 to potting off and transferring to a cold frame. 



Too much stress can hardly be laid upon the value of 

 making cuttings quite firm at the base. This is a point of 

 greater importance than is generally supposed, and with 

 certain sorts of trees and shrubs success or failure largely 

 depends upon this simple fact. 



To dry up superfluous moisture and sweeten the air of the 

 case open the lights for half-an-hour or so every morning, 

 and at the same time remove the moisture that may have col- 

 lected upon the glass during the night with a cloth, sponge, or 

 wash-leather. When the atmosphere in the frame is kept in a 

 high state of saturation there is danger of the cuttings damp- 

 ing off. Another plan is to allow the bottom of the light to 

 rest upon a small piece of wood an inch or so in circum- 

 ference for ventilation and the escape of excessive moisture. 

 Cuttings, like growing plants, prefer certain kinds of soil, and, 

 broadly speaking, all belonging to Ericaceae (Heaths) and 

 Vacciniaceae do best in a peaty soil, and it is well to remember 

 this at the proper time. A compost suitable for the majority 

 of tree and shrub cuttings is composed of light soil with 

 sufficient sharp silver sand to keep it porous. 



Those who do not possess a propagating house may root 

 their cuttings under hand-lights in a made-up soil on a shady 

 border, and if protection from the sun be afforded roots will 

 appear in a few weeks' time. Another satisfactory way of 

 dealing with cuttings without bottom heat is to make up a 

 bed of light soil in a sheltered part of the garden and cover 

 with a low light frame. The made-up soil should be about 

 six inches deep, moist, and sufficient silver sand incorporated 



