Description of a Propagation Shelf, 



25 



estate, and the next, the establishment of Madras schools in 

 every hamlet and village. The only way to improve the con- 

 duct and manners of grown up persons, is to increase their 

 bodily comforts ; and the way to perpetuate this improvement 

 in society, is to educate the growing generation so highly, that 

 they will not rest satisfied without the enjoyments which such 

 a state of society affords. The agricultural labourers, in many 

 parts of the country, are in such a wretched state of ignorance 

 and degradation, that to look at their cottages, habiliments, 

 and weekly wages, one would think them incapable of any 

 degree of refinement; but the experiment made by our cor- 

 respondent shows the contrary, and that in a short time not 

 only the habits of necessity, but even the tastes of a degraded 

 people may be changed. We sincerely hope his principle of 

 improvement will be adopted, and his excellent example imi- 

 tated ; believing that there are few ways in which a landed 

 proprietor could do more good to society, or lay a more solid 

 foundation for self-satisfaction. — Cond. 



Art. VIII. Description of a Propagation Shelf in the Clap- 

 ton Nursery, 'with the Mode of using it, fyc. By Mr. Hugh 

 Lowe, Foreman and Propagator there. 



Sir, 



In compliance with your request, I send you a short account 

 of the propagation shelf, mentioned in the Gardener's Maga- 

 zine (Vol. I. p. 221.) 



The green-house, where it is placed, a cross section of which 

 accompanies this, {Jig. 10.), faces the north, like most of the 

 propagation houses in the principal 

 nurseries, and is forty feet long. 

 The situation of the shelf (a) is in 

 the highest part of the house, close 

 under the roof glass, for the advan- 

 tage of perpendicular light, so 

 essential to young growths. The 

 stage is of flag-stones, and also sup- 

 ported upon brick piers (c). On 

 the upper shelf of the stage, a space 

 about a foot wide is reserved as a 

 pathway to the propagating shelf (d). There is a front shelf 

 in ihe usual way for young plants fit for sale, or for such as 

 are bringing forwards, to yield cuttings (e). This house, and 



