48 



When the shoots, or any of them, are two inches 

 long, if you do not want a very large increase, you 

 may break them carefully off by pushing them a 

 little on one side, and then back again ; but in this 

 operation the pressure must be given quite at the 

 bottom, as well as a little way up ; by placing the 

 broad part of the thumb against the side, and press- 

 ing down on the crown, as well as against the shoot, 

 it will be found to break out very easily, and strike 

 as readilv, if not more readily, than if cut off. 



If this be done at the right age of the shoot, there 

 is not the least difficulty about it, and other eyes will 

 shoot round the place it was broken away from. 

 These shoots should be potted, if you have room for 

 them, in small sixty-sized pots, or thumb-pots, as 

 they are called, which is the smallest regular pot that 

 is made, one in a pot; but if, as is frequently the case 

 with amateur growers, you are cramped for room, 

 put five or six in a large-size sixty pot, round^ the 



