144 THE GARDEN BEAUTIFUL 



by rooting the tips in sand. Nearly all amateur 

 growers use the old clumps year after year, or at 

 most divide them and replant, though no first-class 

 flowers can be produced from any except plants 

 propagated from cuttings rooted early in the same 

 year. Many continue with the old roots for the rea- 

 son that they do not know how easily young plants 

 may be propagated. Clumps that have already flow- 

 ered for one or more years will, if undisturbed, send 

 up vigorous young shoots, and from these should be 

 propagated a stock of plants to supply the autumn 

 crop of flowers. 



The latter half of March is the golden time for 

 propagation, though good results may be had from 

 cuttings taken from January to April. Get a box 

 of six or more inches in depth, bore a few small holes 

 through the bottom to insure drainage and scatter 

 an inch or two of gravel, small stones, or broken pots 

 over the bottom so that excess of water may easily 

 percolate and escape through the numerous drainage 

 holes. On top of this put four or five inches of clean 

 sharp sand and water until it is soaked through. The 

 young shoots of 'mums are so tender you may break 

 them off if you wish, for this method is fully as good 

 as any, and few but trained gardeners will cut them 

 properly; for unless this is done with a very sharp 

 knife, frequently wiped clean, the cuttings may be 

 so injured that they will not root ere they die. Pinch 

 off with thumbnail and finger, or cut with knife all 

 the leaves from each slip except the tuft on the end 

 and cut off the outer half of these if they are inclined 

 to droop. These slips or cuttings should be three or 

 four inches long and planted two inches deep in the 

 sand. 



When you have broken off your slips, if you are 

 an amateur, allow them to stand in fresh water until 



