36 CHRYSANTHEMUMS 



weaken and harden the cuttings, and, if 

 not mitigated as far as possible, will seriously 

 damage them. The house should be shaded 

 lightly and some material placed directly 

 over the cuttings. Newspapers answer the 

 purpose fairly well; in fact, they are excel- 

 lent if they can be kept in place. Plant- 

 protecting cloth or cheese cloth, placed 

 a few inches above the cuttings and kept 

 moist, is good. Abundance of moisture 

 must be supplied the cuttings at this season; 

 they should be watered several times during 

 the day, if the sun is shining. The bench, 

 walls, and walks should also be frequently 

 sprayed with cool water. 



The method of propagation used in Eng- 

 land is to fill small pots — 3 or 4 inch — 

 with a mixture of one third each of sand, 

 leaf mould, and soil; then cuttings are 

 inserted near the edge and the pots placed 

 in some position where the necessary con- 

 ditions may be maintained. That method 

 is but little practised in this country. It 

 might, however, be adopted by amateurs 

 who desire to grow only a few plants. 



Clean, sharp sand is the best material 

 for rooting the cuttings, but where this is 



