Book IV. OPERATIONS OF PROPAGATION. 



887 



1983. Preparation of composts. The preparation requisite for the heavy and light 

 composts for general enrichment, and of the above different earths, consists in collecting 

 eadi sort in the compost-ground, in separate ridges of three or four feet broad and as 

 high, turning them every six weeks or two months for a year or a year and half before 

 they are used. Peat-earth being generally procured in the state of turves full of the 

 roots and tops of heath, requires two or three years to rot ; but, after it has lain one year, 

 it may be sifted, and what passes through a small sieve will be found fit for use. Some 

 nurserymen use both these loams and peats as soon as procured, and find them answer 

 perfectly for most plants ; but for delicate flowers, and especially bulbs, and all florists' 

 flowers, and for all composts in which manures enter, not less than one year ought to be 

 allowed for decomposition, and what is technically called sweetening. Tlie French 

 gardeners allow for their rich orange-tree composts from three to six years. 



1984. The compost-ground may be placed in any situation concealed from the general 

 view, but at the same time exposed to the free action of the sun, air, and rain. Its size 

 will depend on that of the garden, and on the sorts of culture for which the moulds are 

 adapted. It should generally foi-m a part of the parallelogram enclosure used as hot-bed 

 ground, and where there are hot-houses, both should be situate as near them as possible. 



" Sect. II. Operations of Propagation* 



1 985. The operations of j^ropagation are among the most curious and difficult in gardening. 

 As already observed (830.), plants are universally propagated by seed, but partially also 

 by germs or bulbs, suckei's, runners, slips, and offsets j and ai'tificially by layers, inarch- 

 ing, grafting, budding, and cuttings. 



SuBSECT. 1. Propagation by natural Methods. 



1986. By seed. Here the first consideration is to make sure of live seeds ; for some, 

 as we have seen (717. to 722.) lose their vitality very early after being gathered, while 

 others retain it only for one or perhaps two seasons ; some seeds also are injured, and 

 others are improved by keeping. The size of seeds requires also to be taken into con- 

 sideration, for on this most frequently depends the depth which they require to be buried 

 in the soil ; the texture of tlieir skin or covering must be attended to, as on this often 

 depends the time they require to be bui-ied in the soil previously to germination. On the 

 form and surface of the outer coating of seeds sometimes depends the mode of sowing as 

 in the carrot, and on their qualities in general depends their liability to be attacked by 

 insects. The nature of the offspring expected and the proper climate, soil, and season 

 require also to be kept in view in determining how, where, when, and in what quantity 

 any seed must be sown. Such are the general considerations, tlieir particular applications 

 will afterwards occur. 



1987. By ger?ns or bulbs. These, whether cauline or radical, require in general to be 

 planted immediately or soon after removal from the parent plant, in light earth about 

 their own depth from the surface. Matured bulbs may be preserved out of the soil for 

 some months, without injury to their vitality ; but infant bulbs are easily dried up and 

 injured when so treated. 



1988. By offsets. This mode is not very easily distinguislied from the foregoing and 

 following, and seems in a strict sense only applicable to young radical bulbs, which, whea 

 separated or taken off from the parent roots, are termed offsets. 



1989. By slips. These are shoots (Jig. 376. a) which spring from the collar or the 

 upper part of the roots of herbaceous plants, as in auricula, and under shrubs, as thyme, 

 &c. The shoot, when the lower part from whence the roots proceed begins to ripen or 

 acquire a firm texture, is to be slipped or drawn from the parent plant so far as to bring 

 off a heel or claw of old wood, stem, or root, to which generally some roots, or rudiments 

 of roots, are attached. The ragged parts and edges of this claw or rough section are 

 then to be smoothed with a sharp knife, and the slip planted in suitable soil, and shaded 

 till it strikes root afresh, or appears to have recovered from the effects of amputation. 



] 990. By division of the plant. This m.ode is adopted with many species, as most per- 

 ennial grasses, the daisy, polyanthus, and a great variety of others. The plant is takf a 



C c 2 



