IN CALIFORNIA 



145 



next morning to prevent wilting during the first 

 day the most important of all days in propagation. 

 Use a piece of lath or other straight edge to lay 

 across the top of the box to mark lines for cuttings. 

 Use an old table knife or a small thin paddle to make 

 a sharp cut or groove in the sand along the straight 

 edge. Insert the cuttings in this cut; never force 

 them into the sand, for this will bruise the tender 

 ends and induce decay. After pressing the sand 

 against the cuttings, make another cut about two 

 inches from the first and proceed as before. 



Use boxes small enough so that you may cover 

 them with panes of glass (unless you have a glass 



GLASS-COVERED PROPAGATING BOX 



house,) and these must be painted or shaded slightly 

 to keep out too much light and heat for the first 

 two weeks. Never allow the glass to fit down closely 

 upon the top of box, but put under the edge little 

 chips of wood a quarter or half inch thick so that a 

 free circulation of air may be had above the cuttings. 

 T T ep the boxes in a sunny position and never allow 

 the sand to get dry. In from three to four weeks all 

 1 be rooted, though they need not be taken out 

 until a couple of weeks later. As soon as they are 



