90 PROPAGATION. 



supposed to have a greater tendency than the other to produce plants 

 with double flowers. 



Propagation by Tubers, or Slips, and by Grafting, 



This is the mode most commonly adopted for the propagation of 

 this favorite plant, and the operation is begun in March or April, by 

 removing the tubers from the place where they have been deposited 

 during the winter, and putting them in pots, or in loose earth on a 

 mild hot bed. The crown of each tuber is left uncovered to permit 

 each shoot to develop itself, under the full influence of the atmos- 

 pheric air. When the shoots have attained the length of about three 

 inches, they are cautiously separated from the tuber by laying hold of 

 the slip with the thumb and finger near its base, and gently moving 

 it backward and forward until it comes out of its socket. Mr. Paxton 

 recommends that where the shoots are numerous, a part of the crown 

 of the tuber should be invariably taken off with the shoot, a course 

 more likely to be attended with success than by extracting the slip. 



The following mode of increasing choice varieties of this favorite 

 flower was discovered by Mr. Blake, of Kensington G-ore, and is now 

 commonly practised :- 



Select a good tuber of a single sort, taking special care that it has 

 no eyes; then, with a sharp knife, (for a dull edge would mangle the 

 fleshy root, make it jagged, and so prevent a complete adhesion of the 

 scion and stock,) cut off a slice from the upper part of the root, mak- 

 ing at the bottom of the part so cut a ledge wherein to rest the graft. 

 This is done because you cannot tongue the graft as you would do a 

 wood shoot ; and the ledge is useful in keeping the cutting fixed in 

 its place while you tie it. Next cut the scion, (which should be strong, 

 short jointed, having on it two or more joints or buds,) sloping to fit, 

 and cut it so that a joint may be at the bottom of it to rest ' on the 

 aforesaid ledge ; a union may be effected without the ledge, provided 

 the graft can be well fixed to the tuber, but the work will not then 

 be so neat. It is of advantage, though not absolutely necessary, that 

 a joint should be at the end of the scion ; for the scion will occasionally 

 put forth new roots from the lower joint ; the stem is formed from 

 the upper joint ; therefore procure the cuttings with the lower join* 

 as near together as possible. 



