14 DECORATIVE PLANTS, TREES AND SHRUBS 



worth knowing, especially if it is found desirable at any time to 

 rapidly increase stock. 



SIZE OF CUTTINGS 



The size of cuttings may be gathered from our illustrations (see 

 Fig. 3). This varies according to the habit of the shrub, and may 

 be small, about 2 or 3 inches long, or as much as 6 inches. Very 

 seldom do they exceed the latter, as the larger and leafier the cutting 

 the more difficult it is to keep it fresh and happy through the 

 months during which it is making up its mind to root. These sizes, 

 let us say, only apply to the cuttings made from half-ripened wood 

 in the late summer and intended to be struck under the box-lights. 

 Larger and longer cuttings of ripened wood made in the autumn 

 and put in out of doors make quite a different proposition and will 

 be dealt with in due course. 



May we here insist upon the necessity of using a well-sharpened 

 knife for the making of the cuttings ? It would be almost impossible 

 to properly trim conifer cuttings with a blunt knife ; but in general 

 we have again and again insisted upon the point that it is as necessary 

 for a propagator to have his knife keen as it is for a doctor who has a 

 delicate surgical operation to perform. 



One other point : while hard-wooded plants may be looked upon 

 as more or less " cold-blooded," it is not advisable to let them re- 

 main too long before being inserted. They may not have much sap 

 to dry up, but what there is must be assuredly affected if exposed 

 to the air at such a warm time of year, for it is generally during the 

 hottest part of summer that they are made. And this more especially 

 applies to the leafy shrubs, such as the aucuba, laurel, laurestinus, 

 garrya, buddleia, etc. Even the almost unresponsive conifers suffer 

 when exposed too long, and we have known occasions when batches 

 have suffered heavily. To be on the safe side, cuttings ought to be 

 inserted the same day as made. 



How TO INSERT THE CUTTINGS 



The " knee-drill " incidental to the insertion of the cuttings, when 

 the work is carried on day after day, becomes rather trying until one 

 gets used to it, and I have often heard the wish expressed that we had 



