42 PLANT PROPAGATION 
Having had some experience with and proved the use- 
fulness of a propagating-box such as I am about to 
describe, I am able to speak of its merits in providing a 
ready and effective means of striking cuttings of almost 
all kinds of soft-wooded stove and greenhouse plants. 
It is not recommended for hard-wooded plants, such as 
Ericas, Epacrises, and such kinds as require special 
treatment and the skill and attention of a professional 
propagator. 
It often happens, when overhauling or rearranging 
the greenhouse or the conservatory, that a branch may 
be accidentally broken off or require removal or even 
pinching back to improve the shape or to maintain an 
even balance of growth. At such times, with the 
pressure of work on hand, there is often no time for 
preparing pots for cuttings, and the good material thus 
provided is generally thrown away. 
My propagating-box consists of an ordinary strong 
deal box about 3 feet long, 2} feet wide, and 1 foot deep. 
Several large holes are made in the bottom to allow 
water to pass freely through. This is covered with 
broken potsherds, on which is placed a layer of fibrous 
siftings, and the box filled to within 4 inch of the top 
with clean, well-washed river sand. It is stood on an 
open trellis stage at the front of a hot-house, just where 
the hot-water pipes enter, so that the warmth arising 
therefrom provides a moderate degree of bottom heat. 
In this are inserted cuttings of Begonias, Fuchsias, 
Poinsettias, Oleanders—in fact, of almost anything and 
at any season. 
It is surprising what few losses have been experienced, 
and how quickly the small shoots make tufts of roots. 
When thus advanced, they are easily lifted from the 
