296 



GREENHOUSE MANAGEMENT. 



as will prevent a draft over the cutting bed. As soon as 

 the roots have reached a length of half an inch, the cut- 

 tings should be potted into small pots and will need care- 

 fu) watering and shading for a few days. 



While the above instructions apply to most plants, 

 there are a few that, owing to some peculiarity of con- 

 struction or growth, need different treatment, and among 

 them are our common Pelargoniums (geraniums), (Fig. 



98), and many of the 

 cacti and other succu- 

 lent plants. These are 

 more or less succulent, 

 and if placed at once in 

 a cutting bed and treated 

 as above, are likely to rot 

 off. After being made, 

 it is well to spread them 

 out and allow them to 

 wilt for from one day to 

 one week, and then place 

 them in a rather dry 

 cutting bed, or they may 

 at once be potted off, 

 using a soil containing 

 at least one-half sand. 

 If, after giving them one thorough watering, water is with- 

 held until they begin to wilt, cuttings handled in this way 

 will often show smaller losses than when grown in a cut- 

 ting bed. Many plants do not strike readily unless in a 

 moist warm air, and for such a hand glass or propaga- 

 ting case must be used. 



SAUCER PROPAGATION. 



Another method of rooting cuttings that gives 

 excellent results when bottom heat cannot be secured, is 

 by placing them in earthenware pans of sand, two or 



GERANIUM CUTTING. 



