PKOPAGATION. 



55 



noon. During warm, gentle rains, the sash should be 

 opened, but closed very carefully during cold or heavy 

 washing storms. About 60° is the proper temperature. 

 Such a bed as this is invaluable for striking cuttings of 

 all kinds, in which case there should be an inch of clear 

 river sand or charcoal spread over the surface. Annuals 

 of all kinds for the flower garden, radish, tomatoes, pep- 

 pers, cabbage and lettuce plants, &c., will be ready, if the 

 bed is made in J anuary, for transplanting quite as soon as 

 they can be removed with safety. 



Cold Frames are made just like the above, only the 

 box need not be over 15 inches high at the back, and are 

 excellent for wintering half hardy plants of all kinds, and 

 also for forwarding the more hardy plants, as cabbage, 

 lettuce, &c. Indeed, they are quite as indispensable as 

 the hot bed, and less expensive. In very severe weather, 

 the heat may be kept in by earthing up the sides and 

 covering the sash with mats during the night. Air should 

 always be given when the weather will admit, or the 

 plants will grow up yellow and spindling. In managing 

 frames, the secret of success is to give plenty of air. 

 Plants raised in cold frames are generally more hardy and 

 desirable than those from a hot bed. 



Propagation of Plants. — There are only two general 

 modes of propagating plants, viz., hy seed and hy division. 

 Species are propagated by seed, but varieties, generally by 

 division as they do not always continue true from seed. 

 There are also two modes of propagating hy division; in 

 the one, the plants root in the ground as suckers, layers 

 and cuttings, and in the other they root in another plant, 

 as in budding, grafting, and inarching. While all plants 

 are naturally multiplied by seed, most kinds also allow of 

 propagation by division, as by taking offsets, parting their 



