THE GARDEN AT HOME 



north or east is the best place for them. Cuttings of 

 this class should be taken about 9 inches long. Six inches 

 of the cutting is placed beneath the soil, 3 inches only 

 showing above ground. It is important that all cuttings 

 be made quite firm, or their chances of forming roots will 

 be minimised. The soil about those put out of doors is 

 made firm by treading with the foot, while others will be 

 made firm by means of the short stick or dibber that is 

 used to insert them. 



The cutting should be made firm at its base. When 

 putting in cuttings with a dibber or short stick, the soil 

 is pressed firmly about the base of the growth. In 

 dealing with cuttings out of doors, the layer of soil at 

 the foot of the cutting is trodden firm before the trench 

 is filled in. After cold weather cuttings out of doors 

 are often lifted by the action of frost, and should be 

 trodden down again. A stick with a blunt not with a 

 sharp point should be used to ensure that the base of 

 the cutting reaches the bottom of the hole ; otherwise 

 the cutting may be suspended, having no soil immediately 

 beneath it. 



Layering is a simple yet slow method of propa- 

 gation, and is not very generally practised, though in 

 the case of some shrubs it is useful. Branches that are 

 conveniently near the ground are notched, and the 

 notched part is pegged in the ground and covered with 

 soil. The notch is simply made by cutting half through 

 the branch. A sharp twist, so as to bruise the branch 



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