PROPAGATION. 25 



manner of growth. The usual methods are as follows :— By 

 eowing seeds, by striking cuttings, by grafting, by cutting up 

 the crowns of old plants, and dividing those which grow in 

 tufts, and in some instances by cutting the roots into small 

 pieces, called root-cuttings, or the stem into small portions or 

 «yes. Thus it will be seen that an acquaintance with the 

 structure and habits of plants generally is necessary to enable 

 any one to become a good plant propagator. 



Seeds. — Spring is the best time for sowing seeds of all 

 kinds of tender plants, though there are some few things that 

 succeed best when sown immediately they are ripe. Having 

 prepared the soil and taken especial care that the drainage is 

 perfect, let the seed pan or pot be filled up to within a short 

 distance of the rim, the actual degree of fulness being regu- 

 lated by the size of the seeds to be sown, for if large, more 

 room must be allowed for covering them with soil than would 

 be required for smaller seeds. Indeed, many very fine seeds 

 require no covering at all, but must have a piece of paper or 

 glass laid over them until they germinate, to prevent them 

 from being washed or blown away. The covering for all small 

 «eeds should be light ; a good rule is that seeds should be 

 ■covered about their own depth with soil, and the soil should be 

 passed through a fine sieve before use. After sowing, the pots 

 should have a gentle watering with a small fine-rosed waterlog 

 pot, and be placed in a gentle bottom heat, nothing more 

 being required beyond the maintenance of a steady heat, and 

 leeping the soil in a uniformly moist (but not wet) state, 

 ■until the seeds have germinated. When the young plants 

 iiave made about half an inch of growth, or formed one or 

 iwo or more leaves beside the cotyledons or seed leaves, 

 ■according to the size and habit, they should be carefully 

 ■shaken out, and either planted singly in small pots, or two or 

 three put together in one pot, at equal distances apart, close 



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