68 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 
The cuttings are dibbled thickly into the sand, and after- 
wards watered in with tepid water. If all goes well, they 
make roots in little more than a month, and they are 
then ready for potting off. 
Another method by which I have been successful in 
raising many thousands of young plants, is to insert four cut- 
tings around the sides of 3-inch pots, in a compost consisting 
of two parts sharp sand, one part loam, and one part leaf- 
mould, the loam and leaf-mould being first sterilised. The 
pots are thickly surfaced with sand, and a little sand is forced 
into the holes made by the dibber, in order that the base 
of the cuttings shall rest on this material. The pots are 
plunged to the rims in a bed of moist cocoa-nut fibre, in a 
propagating pit having an atmospheric temperature of 55° 
to 60° and a bottom heat of 60° to 65°. The cuttings are 
given a thorough watering to settle the soil, and, as a rule, 
no more water is necessary until the cuttings are rooted. 
It is necessary to provide shade from bright sunshine, and 
to wipe the moisture from the inside of the lights each 
morning and afternoon. Should excessive vapour arise 
in the pit, afford a little ventilation until it is dispelled, 
and thus prevent damping. When the cuttings are rooted, 
the pots should be stood upon the surface of the bed, 
and by degrees the lights should be tilted, and the young 
plants gradually inured to the general atmosphere of the 
pit. After they have been in this position for a few days, 
they should be removed to a stage close to the roof glass 
in a house having an atmospheric temperature of 55° by 
night, and 60° to 65° by day. 
Yet another method, and one which amateurs usually 
practise successfully, is that of the frame and old-fashioned 
