PREPARING SOIL AND PROPAGATING 33 



described in Chapter I, and be brought 

 into growing condition as desired. 



PROPAGATION 



The methods required for successful prop- 

 agation will vary slightly during the season, 

 according to the changing character of that 

 period, but the essential principles are the 

 same throughout. These principles are: 

 Pure, clean atmosphere, without draughts 

 of air striking the cuttings until they have 

 begun to make roots; considerable moisture 

 in the atmosphere; temperature as nearly 

 as possible between 45 and 55 degrees; 

 and some arrangement that will hold clean, 

 sharp sand, fine gravel, crushed stone or 

 brick, or even washed coal ashes, to a 

 depth of two to three inches. Various 

 arrangements may be made to provide these 

 conditions according to the quantity of 

 plants to be propagated, the facilities avail- 

 able for the purpose, or the inclination of the 

 operator, from the extensive propagating 

 houses of the prominent commercial estab- 

 lishments to a few pots, a small box, or a 

 saucer in the window of some enthusiastic 

 amateur. The best methods of doing this 



