50 The Amateur's Book of the Dahlia 



trimming, so that the joints which have been 

 trimmed are just covered; but do not allow them 

 to come in contact with the soil at the bottom 

 of the box. A good instrument for inserting the 



cuttings is an ordinary pot 

 label. Force it down the 

 desired depth and press the 

 sand back, allowing space 

 wherein to set the cuttiiig. 

 Press the sand firmly 

 around each cutting before 

 putting in the next one. 



The temperature of the 

 house should be about 65° 

 or 70° with free circulation 

 of air, and the cuttings 

 should be shaded from the 

 direct rays of the sun. 

 The sand must, of course, be always damp 

 and warm. Stagnant air and cold, wet sand 

 will cause the cuttings to "damp off." 



In about three weeks, sometimes more, some 

 of the cuttings will have thrown out little hair- 

 like roots, which may run into the soil under the 

 sand, and take a bit of nourishment while their 

 slower neighbours are only just commencing 

 life. 



Then is the time to pot them. Use a sandy 



The same cutting ready for 

 rooting 



