MAKING CUTTINGS 35 



just below the 'eye' at the bottom, just above the 

 ' eye ' at the top. Sometimes, when we put them in the 

 ground right at once, not in the sand on the bench, 

 we make them longer twice as long ; but that is 

 long enough for you. Now," and he handed her his 

 knife, "you make one." 



"Why do you call those little bumps on the stick 

 ' eyes ' I " questioned the under-gardener, as she took 

 the branch from Mr. Trommel. 



"Why do we call them 'eyes'?" repeated the 

 old German. "I think it is because they are the 

 little windows that the little leaves can peek out of 

 when they are looking to see if it is warm enough 

 to come out." 



"Oh," said Mary, comprehendingly. 



"Ah, that is nice," said Mr. Trommel, looking ap- 

 provingly at the cutting which Mary held up for in- 

 spection ; "that is right. Be careful that you lay 

 the little cuttings all the same way, Liebchen, else you 

 will be putting some little fellow in the sand head 

 first" 



The small fingers worked assiduously. 



"No, no," said Mr. Trommel, as she came, in the 

 cutting-making process, to the thin end of the 

 branch ; "throw that away. That is too little, too 



