6o How to spoil Cuttings 



Propagating by Cuttings.— A large number of plants, 

 Campanulas, Onosmas, Snbulata and other Phloxes, 

 Aubrietias, Lithospermums, Saxifragas and the like 

 may, with advantage, be increased by means of cut- 

 tings. The first-named root quite well in pure sand, 

 when cuttings of the soft young shoots are used. The 

 others named, except Saxifragas, require to be secured 

 with a heel, i.e., youthful bits an inch or so long with 

 the junction of a parent stem attached thereto. The 

 flowering branches of the Aubrietias and the others 

 named are wiry and often valueless to the plant propa- 

 gator, but if the plants are cut back somewhat when 

 flowering is over they will soon give a plenitude of 

 cuttings of the right sort. These, when of the required 

 length, should be pulled away by a downward move- 

 ment and inserted in very sandy soil without further 

 ado. Much time is wasted and thousands of cuttings 

 spoiled in trying to " make " them. Moral : don't do 

 it! A uniformly cool garden frame is the best place 

 for the majority. Soft cuttings like those of Cam- 

 panula do not mind a little warmth. 



By Dirision. — This consists of pulling tufted grow- 

 ing plants to pieces, and nothing is easier. It is, of 

 course, important that root fibres be attached to each 

 division. In the case of some of the "mossy" and 

 "encrusted" Saxifragas, also Cobweb and other 

 Houseleeks, every growth will be found so endowed. 

 Hepaticas will require to be divided with a knife, and 

 so, too, will the Adonis, while the Garden Gentianella 

 should first have all soil washed away and then be care- 

 fully pulled asunder. Spreading plants like the alpine 

 Phloxes or Aubrietias are divided with greater suc- 

 cess when the tufts have been mulched with sandy 

 soil some weeks in advance. Where a few additional 

 plants only are required, or an attempt is being made 

 to add new vigour to the stock, this system, in con- 

 junction with replanting, has much to recommend it. 



