57 



off, because it is necessary to keep them in a green 

 state, and just growing, but nothing more. At the 

 end of January, or whenever you commence propaga- 

 tion, they can be removed to the hotbed or stove ; 

 and experience has taught that, with care and atten- 

 tion, they will produce a multitude of cuttings, earlier 

 than can be obtained from ground roots. Many of 

 the Paris florists cultivate them very extensively after 

 this manner for the markets of Pere la Chaise and 

 Montartre. (Gard. Chron. 1842, 621.) 



Mr. Blake, who, from France, first introduced this 

 mode of propagation, directs the scion to be placed 

 on, instead of in, the tuber. He says that the cut- 

 ting intended to be the scion should be robust, short- 

 jointed, and having two or more joints or buds ; it 

 must also be procured as early in the season as possi- 

 ble. For the stock, select a good tuber of a single 

 variety, taking especial care that it has no buds or 

 eyes, cut off a slice from its upper end, using a very 

 sharp knife, making at the bottom of the part so cut 

 a ledge whereon to rest the scion. This is desirable, 

 because you cannot tongue the scion as you would a 

 woody shoot ; and the ledge is useful for keeping the 

 scion in its place whilst it is being tied. Cut the 

 scion sloping to fit the cut on the tuber, and cut it so 

 that a joint may be at its bottom resting on the afore- 

 said ledge. A union may be effected without the 

 ledge, provided the scion can be well fixed to the 



