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then if the young shoots are grown to a proper 

 length, that is, from one inch, to two, three, or 

 four, according to the nature of their growth, 

 which they will be, in general, about the latter 

 end of February, and from that to any time in 

 March, proceed to cut and dress them neatly 

 with a sharp penknife, taking off all the leaves 

 close to the stem as possible without wounding 

 it, except a few at the top, to be left for the free 

 respiration of the cutting : this observation, 

 should be particularly attended to in making 

 cuttings of evergreens in general, whether hardy, 

 or tender : let them be cut off at bottom with a 

 clean horizontal cut, and immediately inserted 

 in their proper pot. To have these properly 

 prepared is a very necessary part of the busi- 

 ness ; being well drained, they should be rather 

 more than half filled with the mould, or com- 

 post best suited to the nature of the plant, and 

 afterwards filled with good loam or sand, which 

 ever may be thought more adviseable to insert 

 the cutting in : if sand is used, it should be 

 previously well watered, otherwise, it cannot 

 be sufficiently tightened to the base of the cut- 

 ting ; a most essential point to be observed : 

 however, it should have time to be well drained 



