142 GARDENING BY MYSELF. 



cutting is more sure to grow if struck 

 under glass ; and we who have not sashes 

 nor bell glasses, can use instead a cracked 

 tumbler or a finger bowl. For our Fairy- 

 land is only in results. 



Florists often prepare for their cuttings 

 beforehand, by so trimming the stock plants 

 that they will throw out a quantity of the 

 right sort of shoots. For instance, with the 

 verbena, Mr. Henderson advises this : " In 

 August, cut back the old plants about six 

 inches,. fork up the soil and give it a dressing 

 of fresh compost ; then, by October, there 

 will be plenty of first-rate new shoots, just fit 

 for cuttings." But it is rarely needful to do 

 this in any small, private garden, for one 

 seldom wishes many plants of any single 

 variety, and so enough good cuttings can be 

 found without special pains to provide them. 



If you have not the money to buy cheap 

 statues — poor plaster figures of men and 

 beasts — to set about your grounds, be 

 thankful : there is no Fairyland within their 

 shadow. But if you want to beautify an 



