20 STOTE PLANTS. 



to the side. This latter plan should be adopted for hard- 

 wooded and very slow-growing plants, or for soft-wooded 

 plants that may be intended for flowering in masses. In the 

 case of the latter, they will remain together without disturb- 

 ance at the next shifting ; but in the case of hard-wooded 

 plants, they should be potted separately by the time they 

 have made one year's growth. Many large seeds which have 

 hard woody skins or coverings, are much benefited by being 

 placed in hot water for some twelve or twenty-four hours 

 before sowing them, and are then best placed singly in small 

 pots. Some seeds will germinate very quickly, and others 

 will be many weeks before they show the least sign of vitality; 

 therefore, do not be hasty in turning out seed pots because 

 the seeds have not grown, unless it is quite evident they are 

 dead. Some seeds under our own care have been as long as 

 four years in germinating, none of them having started the 

 first year, but a few having made their appearance from time 

 to time during the next three years. 



Cuttings. — These may be taken from various parts of the 

 plant, but as a rule, cuttings of hard-wooded plants strike 

 root more readily if taken off with what is called a heel — that 

 is, with a portion of the old wood attached. The reason such 

 pieces root more quickly is obvious, for as there are a quantity 

 of latent buds at the junction of the old and young wood, 

 these soon produce roots freely. Other plants, including all 

 soft-wooded plants, may have any of the young shoots that 

 are not too robust, and full of sap, taken off as cuttings. It 

 will be necessary here to offer a few words respecting the soil 

 to be used, and the treatment required to lead to success. 

 First, the pots must be filled up two-thirds of their depth with 

 potsherds, the upper ones being small, so that the soil does 

 not get mixed with them. The soil must be of the same kind 

 that is suit3,ble to the parent plant, but sifted and made very 



