90 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



Cuttings. 



The first thing necessary is a propagating bed and the means 

 to care for freshly rooted plants; just as an incubator is needed 

 to hatch eggs and the conveniences for caring for the chicks when 

 hatched. If one has a greenhouse it is easily done. Close a part 

 of a biench with glazed sash or with cotton cloth as many florists 

 do. Bottom heat will be needed which can be obtained by closing 

 in the hot water pipes under the bench. About five inches of good 

 clean gray sand, as a propagating medium, is necessary and head 

 room above the cuttings. There should be a few degrees more 

 heat in the bed than in the air; 75° to 78° is about right. If there 

 is too much bottom heat vents must be provided to allow the sur- 

 plus heat to escape. 



If one does not have a greenhouse, a box with a pane of glass can 

 be used and set over another box with a lamp underneath, incubator 

 fashion, this with the means of controlling the temperature will 

 furnish quite a serviceable bed. 



The propagating bed will be mainly for soft wood cuttiilgs taken 

 into the greenhouse during the winter and spring for winter and 

 spring grafting, and for the sowing of some seeds. 



The idea of closing in the bed overhead is to control the air and 

 sunlight, as fresh cuttings and grafts lose much by respiration in 

 the daytime. The bed may be aired at night when there is less 

 respiration, which helps also to harden the cuttings as they become 

 rooted; a very important factor. 



If the cutting has opposite leaves cut it off at a joint and it will 

 root there or thereabouts. If the cutting has alternate leaves like 

 the Heliotrope cut it anywhere, and it will root anywhere along the 

 stem. Some leaves should be taken off to reduce respiration. 

 What there is to know is what is the proper condition of the wood 

 and the conditions under which cuttings will root. This can be 

 learned only by experience. It is a hard thing to explain as no 

 two gardeners have the same conditions, nor is their experience 

 just the same. 



It will be safe to make the sand quite firm, the cuttings quite 

 firm in the bed, and in giving them plenty of water and shade from 



