32 THE GEAPE CULTUB1ST. 



have been kept in the cellar or some convenient place 

 away from the frost may now be plunged into the soil, 

 nearly or quite down to the manure. The buds, or cut- 

 tings as they are called, should be made in the same 

 manner and potted in the sand, as recommended for the 

 propagating house. 



Our main object now is the same as before ; that is, 

 by the assistance of bottom heat to excite the roots into 

 growth before the leaves; therefore, before the leaves' 

 start, admit as much air as possible without cooling the 

 soil or causing a too great waste of heat. "Head cool, 

 but feet warm," is applicable here, for the first week or 

 two ; but so soon as the buds push above ground, then 

 the air should be kept more confined, to prevent a too 

 great evaporation from the leaves as they expand. The 

 same care in regard to watering should be given as when 

 grown in the propagating house ; also shade the young 

 plants in a similar manner. We do not want to exclude 

 light so much as we do to avoid the direct rays of the 

 sun, while the leaves are small and the plants are form- 

 ing roots. Give the plants air by lifting one end of the 

 sash a few inches whenever the weather is fine, and .the 

 thermometer goes above 90 or 95. The atmosphere 

 should be constantly humid, but do not so saturate the 

 soil as to cause the plants to rot or mildew ; also avoid 

 sudden changes from extreme heat to cold, for a change 

 of 30 to 40 will most surely give a check to the growth, 

 and this is almost certain to be followed by disease. So 

 soon as the plants have rooted pot them off into two or 

 three inch pots, and place them again in the frames. 



If the weather has become quite warm, they may be 

 placed in frames where there is no bottom heat. The 

 propagator must be his own judge in this matter, only 

 bear in mind that a heat of 70 to 80 must be main- 

 tained to insure success ; and if this can be had without 

 bottom heat, then the latter will not be necessary. 



