28 GEEBNHOtJSE MANAGEMENT. 



shoots of flowering stems, and it is a good plan not to 

 pull them until the flowers have opened, as one can then 

 tell what the flowers of the cuttings are likely to be. 



The portions used for cuttings should be firm rathei 

 than soft and watery, but should not be the 'vjeak, punj 

 stems that weak plants often send out. While the best 

 results can be secured from the suckers that form around 

 the base of the plants, the strong pips along the sides of 

 the stems may be used and will make good plants. 

 These shoots may be pulled from the plants, and by re- 

 moving some of the lower leaves the cuttings may be 



FIG. 6. TWO TTPKS OF CABNATION CUTTINGS. 



prepared without the use of a knife. The terminal 

 leaves, if very long, may be cut back (Pig. 6). 



Cuttings may be rooted either in propagating beds 

 or in boxes of sand. The bottom of the bed should be 

 covered with a thin layer of cinders, or gravel, and 

 about three inches of clean, sharp sand should then be 

 put on. While it is not desirable to use sand that is 

 Very coarse or very fine, the character of the sand makes 

 comparatively little difference, provided it is not of a 

 quicksand nature and is free from organic matter. The 

 sand should be compacted and thoroughly wet down. 



