98 



PROPAGATION BY GRAFTINa. [^May. 



the plants are kept distinct^ and can be taken out at any 

 time and examined. They should be frequently sprinkled 

 with water that is partially warm; and if, after they are thus 

 placed in the bed, a rank and dense steam should arise^ the 

 lights should be slightly raised both night and day, till it 

 subsides; and if the nights are cold, cover the lights with 

 mats or shutters. This gentle bottom heat will speedily in- 

 duce the eyes to grow, and when the shoots have attained 

 the height of three or four inches, they should be cut ofi* 

 close to the base, which makes the best plant. After the 

 cuttings are taken off, pot them singly into very small pots 

 filled with light sandy loam, containing a good portion of 

 black earth from the woods, and placed in another moderate 

 hot-bed and give a gentle supply of water. Particular care 

 must be paid to shading them from the violent rays of the 

 sun, for if they are once exposed, they seldom recover: in 

 this state they should continue till they have formed their 

 roots, which, in a temperature of from sixty to seventy de- 

 grees, will be in from two to three weeks. Where a great 

 stock of any particular sort is wanted, the cuttings should be 

 taken off just below a joint, leaving two or three eyes at the 

 base of the shoot, which will again speedily produce new 

 shoots, that can be again removed in a similar manner. 



When the plants are rooted, thej may then be considered 

 established, and all that is necessary is, to shift them into 

 larger pots as they require; and gradually inure them to a 

 lower temperature, till they can endure the open air, which 

 will not be before the middle of May. 



Propcigation hy Grafting. Where only a few plants are 

 wanted, this is a very successful method, as an operation can 

 be conducted in the office or parlor window. The cutting 

 intended for the graft should have about three joints; when 

 obtained, select a good tuber without eyes from any common 

 sort, and with a sharp knife cut a slice from the upper part 

 of the root downward about two inches in length, and about 

 half an inch in depth, and then cut it off horizontally, leav- 

 ing a ledge whereon to rest the graft; next cut the graft 

 sloping to fit, and cut it so that an eye or joint may be at 

 the bottom of it to rest on the aforesaid ledge. After the 

 graft has been firmly tied, a piece of clay should be put 

 round it; pot the root in fine soil, in a pot that will bury the 

 graft half way in the mould, and cover it with a glass (a 



