CHAPTER IV 

 THE PROPAGATING HOUSE 



GRAFTING 



IN the production of some of the choicest of our ornamental shrubs 

 it is found that considerable time may be gained by grafting rather 

 than by the more ordinary practice of cuttings. This method is 

 widely used to increase the variegated forms of our most popular 

 shrubs, for the types are easily raised from seed, as stocks, and of 

 course the variegated forms cannot be. Golden and silver hollies, 

 golden and other yews, golden cypress and 

 thujas, the most beautiful variegated ivy (H. 

 madarensts), these and others are largely pro- 

 pagated this way even though most of them 

 can also be increased by cuttings. 



For this purpose we have to fall back on 

 the propagating house, and this we have already 

 referred to as the real workshop of the hard- 

 wooded propagator where he starts the year 

 g ra f tm g roses. The stocks, whether yew, 

 thuja, cupressus, ivy or what not, raised from 

 seeds or from cuttings, are potted up in the 

 early autumn just as rose-stocks are potted up, 

 and plunged in the open ground. There they 

 remain for a whole year, unless urgently 

 wanted, and thoroughly establish themselves, 

 for only so they can be considered reliable. 



Grafting does not take place so early in 

 the year as is the case with the rose, but in 

 the early spring, and our own routine always 

 is to fill the propagating pits with grafted roses throughout January, 

 February and early March, by which time we have finished, and 

 then to occupy their space with the subjects we are now treating of. 

 We have never considered it a good policy to mix up shrubs and 

 roses in the same pit or house, for they need different treatment, 



16 



FIG. 4 

 Grafted Holly 



