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be given to the firmest wood of the same years 

 growth; and of these, only such whose leaves 

 have attained their full size, and proper colour, 

 which are generally to be selected from the la- 

 teral shoots : as the upright leading ones are 

 mostly too luxuriant to make good cut ings. I 

 have observed that the cuttings of many plants, 

 if taken from the lateral shoots, never become 

 proper erect stems ; but are inclined at all times 

 to form an irregular, bushy, weak head : this is 

 not of small importance to such collectors as 

 cultivate plants merely for the flower ; as such 

 heads generally produce them sooner than lux- 

 uriant leaders. To the lovers of handsome 

 erect plants I would however recommend to 

 choose their cuttings from the upright shoots, 

 early in the season, before they acquire that 

 luxuriance of growth so unfit for the purposes 

 of propagation. The tops of the shoots are to 

 be preferred, unless they happen to flag before 

 used. To prepare them for insertion, most of 

 the leaves must be trimmed off close to the stem, 

 leaving only a few at the top, to allow a free 

 respiration of the air necessary to the life of the 

 plant. This is a most essential article in the 

 art of making cuttings, particularly those of 



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