General Remarks. 



579 



or two years, according to the nature of the species. Many 

 shrubs and trees are readily raised from cuttings in the open 

 ground in a partially shaded place. Such are Poplars, Willows, 

 common Laurel, hardy Roses, Ribes species, Ivies, Privet, 

 Virginian Creeper, etc., etc. The ground should be well pre- 

 pared for cuttings, and if of a heavy nature, a little sand placed 

 in immediately around the cuttings, care being taken to press 

 the soil firmly against the cuttings, especially at the bottom. 

 Most of the Coniferous shrubs will strike from cuttings, though 

 nearly all of the arborescent species form handsomer specimens 

 from seed ; but a cold pit or greenhouse secured from frost 

 in winter, and kept cool and shaded in summer, is necessary 

 to raise them, as they are several months, or even more than 

 a year, some of them, before they produce roots. Pots are 

 preferable for this purpose, half filled with drainage, a layer 

 of good free mould, and a layer of sand sufficiently thick 

 (from one to two inches) that the heel of the cutting just 

 reaches the mould. The whole must be very firm, and un*- 

 ceasing attention in watering is indispensable, for too little or 

 too much are equally fatal. Cuttings of common Laurel and 

 Box may be put in during the Autumn, but Kibes, Ivy,- Climb- 

 ing Roses, and most other subjects are better left till the end 

 of Winter or beginning of Spring ; and then, if sharp frosts 

 follow, the cuttings should be pressed down again, as the frost 

 often draws them out of the ground, or more or less raises them 

 from their original position. Short- jointed, well-ripened wood 

 should be chosen in all cases, as it produces roots more freely 

 and forms stronger plants in a shorter period. Cuttings of 

 Roses, Ribes, etc., should be taken from shoots of the previous 

 year's growth. From eight to twelve inches is a good length, 

 and they should be inserted at least four inches in the ground ; 

 Laurel and Ivy cuttings are preferable with a heel or small 

 portion of the older wood. The former should be from a foot to 

 eighteen inches long, the tip being cut off to induce the lateral 

 buds to shoot ; but the latter are quite as well when only a joint 

 or two remains above ground. For Coniferous plants very 

 short lateral branchlets^ with a heel or small portion of the 

 older wood, are best. The leaves should be carefully, removed 

 from the underground portion of all cuttings, and a sharp knife 

 employed in preparing them. 



Many shrubs and herbs may be propagated very rapidly by 

 division, especially where, like the common Lilac, they throw 



