SAND FOR PROPAGATION. IOI 



clean, especially as regards decaying leaves or or- 

 ganic matter of any kind. If obtained from 

 creeks or small streams it is apt to have too much 

 organic matter in it. River sand and bank sand 

 are the best. At Potighkeepsie most of the propa- 

 gating sand is obtained from banks which crop 

 out at various places, and it is almost wholly free 

 from organic matter. The banks are really veins 

 or strata of sand deposited ages ago. One can- 

 not be too particular about the sand, and while we 

 cannot describe exactly the kind to use, the few 

 hints thrown out will enable the man of intelli- 

 gence to properly exercise his judgment. W e 

 make it a point never to use the 

 sand but once, as it is cheaper to get 

 new sand than to have the cuttings 

 infected with disease. 



The sand may be put in boxes as already de- 

 scribed for soil. It should be pressed a little more 

 firmly than the soil and watered before putting in 

 the cuttings. The cuttings we put in with a dib- 

 ble the size of a lead pencil, two hundred cuttings 

 to a box. After filling the boxes the cuttings 

 should be looked after carefully for about two 

 weeks or more. During very bright days they 

 should be covered with single sheets of news- 

 paper, and if the weather is warm and the sun 

 bright the papers should have a dash of water 

 thrown on them with the sprinkling can during 

 the heat of the day. Place the cuttings in a sash 



