CUTTINGS. 



293 



in, and are much less injured by damp than plants of any other descrip- 

 tion. The most convenient shading for them is large sheets of coarse 

 packing paper laid over the glasses within the frame, which is both 

 easier done and more certain of remaining without being displaced than 

 any covering apphed on the exterior of the pit, which is hable to be 

 bloTMi off, and before such a disaster can be discovered the whole stock 

 of cuttings may be destroyed by the sun. 



One great advantage which shading with paper within the frame has 

 over any kind of shading laid over the exterior is, that while the cuttings 

 are effectually shaded by the paper, the sun's rays are not prevented from 

 entering into the pit to dry up damp and prevent an impure atmosphere 

 from being formed, which would be the case if covered "^ith mats, as is 

 too often erroneously practised. 



Many of these plants strike root very soon after planting : thus the 

 first set of rooted plants fit for transplanting into separate small pots may 

 be expected in about a fortnight or three weeks, another set in a month cr 

 five weeks, and so on, wliile some will remain unrooted for nine months 

 or a twelvemonth. The cuttings ^vill in general show the progress of the 

 roots by beginning to grow ; when this is observed, air should be gra- 

 dually admitted to them, so that by the time they are fit for potting they 

 may stand, -without fiagging, the heat of the sun. Shading should be 

 taken off every evening, and as the plants appear to root it should be by 

 degrees reduced till dispensed with entirely. 



^yhen the cuttings have rooted sufficiently to insure their safe removal 

 to separate pots, they should be taken very carefully out of the mould or 

 sand in which they have been hitherto growing, and as the preservation 

 of the roots is the principal object to be attended to, it will be well to 

 turn out the contents of the pot carefully on the potting table, so that the 

 roots may be singled out and separated from the mould without breaking 

 or bruising any of them. This is perfectly practicable in regard to the 

 larger growing sorts, but the smaller kinds will require to be taken out 

 in small patches upon the point of a knife or thin piece of wood, ^^^l€n 

 they are separated from the sand or mould in which they have been 

 struck, they sliould then be as speedily as possible planted into thumbs, 

 or small or large sixties, as their size and condition demand. The 

 mould now to be used is that in which the plant is found to succeed best 

 in when full grown ; but in regard to the smaller and more deHcate ones, 

 a soil somewhat lighter, and the mould reduced to a finer consistency, 

 will be advisable. 



^Vhen potted off they should be gently watered, and then placed in 



