Feb.] GREEN-HOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 1027 



and by quietly pulling out two of the sides, the remaining 

 sides {a) lift up. It is our general practice to fill the bottom of 

 the tubs with broken bricks, tiles, and turf, for draining, so as 

 to be level with the top of the bars. 



PROPAGATING GREEN-HOUSE AND CONSERVATORY PLANTS. 



The plants put into a raild temperature, as recommended 

 ast month, with a view to produce young wood for the pur- 

 pose of making cuttings, will be by the middle of this month 

 n good order for that purpose. Most of them will be so, 

 ,vhen they have attained the length of from two to four inches, 

 according to their kinds. Pots should be had in readiness for 

 their reception, by being perfectly drained, and filled with 

 mould proper for each respective plant. The majority, how- 

 ever, strike root in pure white sand, into which the cuttings 

 are planted without any other mixture whatever. When the 

 cuttings are taken off the mother-plant, they should in all 

 cases, excepting such as bleed very much, (as most species of 

 Euphorbias and other Lactiniferous plants, which discharge a 

 quantity of white milky blood or juice,) be planted as soon 

 after taken from the plant as possible. In preparing the cut- 

 ting, a very sharp knife only should be used, wherewith to cut 

 off all the leaves as close to the stem as possible, without 

 wounding it, as far up the cutting as it is intended that it 

 should be placed in the sand or mould, leaving a few of the 

 top leaves entire, for the necessary purpose of allowing the 

 free respiration of the plant to go on. This observation is 

 particularly directed to all evergreens, whether tender or hardy, 

 and a want of attention to it seems the principal cause of the 

 failures that occur in propagating that denomination of plants. 

 It may be laid down as a rule, from which there are few ex- 

 ceptions, that no cutting should be deprived of all its leaves, 

 neither should they be shortened, although we daily see it 

 practised. When sand is used to plant the cutting in, it 

 should be first pressed down tight into the pot, and after- 

 wards well watered previously to the cuttings being put in ; 

 and if water be applied after they are planted, with a view to 

 settle it round their stems, the glasses should not be put on 



