General Remarks. 579 
or two years, according to the nature of the species. Many 
shrubs and trees are readily raised from cuttings in the open 
ground in a partially shaded place. Such are Poplars, Willows, 
common Laurel, hardy Roses, Ribes species, Ivies, Privet, 
Virginian Creeper, etc., etc. The ground should be well pre- 
pared for cuttings, and if of a heavy nature, a little sand placed 
in immediately around the cuttings, care being taken to press 
the soil firmly against the cuttings, especially at the bottom. 
Most of the Coniferous shrubs will strike from cuttings, though 
nearly all of the arborescent species form handsomer specimens 
from seed; but a cold pit or greenhouse secured from frost 
in winter, and kept cool and shaded in summer, is necessary 
to raise them, as they are several months, or even more than 
a year, some of them, before they produce roots. Pots are 
preferable for this purpose, balf filled with drainage, a layer 
of good free mould, and a layer of sand sufficiently thick 
(from one to two inches) that the heel of the cutting just 
reaches the mould. The whole must be very firm, and un- 
ceasing attention in watering is indispensable, for too little or 
too much are equally fatal. Cuttings of common Laurel and 
Box may be put in during the Autumn, but Ribes, Ivy, Climb- 
ing Roses, and most other subjects are better left till the end 
of Winter or beginning of Spring; and then, if sharp frosts 
follow, the cuttings should be pressed down again, as the frost 
often draws them out of the ground, or more or less raises them 
from their original position. Short-jointed, well-ripened wood 
should be chosen in all cases, as it produces roots more freely 
and forms stronger plants in a shorter period. Cuttings of 
Roses, Ribes, etc., should be taken from shoots of the previous 
year’s growth. From eight to twelve inches is a good length, 
and they should be inserted at least four inckes in the ground ; 
Laurel and Ivy cuttings are preferable with a heel or small 
portion of the older wood. The former should be from a foot to 
eighteen inches long, the tip being cut off to induce the lateral 
buds to shoot; but the latter are quite as well when only a joint 
or two remains above ground. For Coniferous plants very 
short lateral branchlets, with a heel or small portion of the 
older wood, are best. The leaves should be carefully removed 
from the underground portion of all cuttings, and a sharp knife 
employed in preparing them. 
Many shrubs and herbs may be propagated very rapidly by 
division, especially where, like the common Lilac, they throw 
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