THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
43 
particular shoot is in a fit state forthepurpose of propagation, and even 
then the subject could not Oe so well explained as by a few practical 
investigations under the assistance of a proficient. As it has been 
observed that the cuttings from a collection of Heaths are obtained 
progressively, it follows that the propagator’s operations must be 
regulated thereby. The earliest struck plants, like the early sown 
seeds, will be fit for potting off the same season, and by giving 
them a liberal shift early in the following season, beautiful plants 
will be produced by the autumn ; whereas, cuttings inserted later in 
the season had better remain in their cutting-pots during winter, 
as by potting off late in the autumn no advance w ill be gained, and 
a risk incurred of losing them in the winter from their not being 
established in their pots. 
In preparing cuttings, select pots like those described for seed, 
and prepare them in a similar manner, with this exception — on the 
top of the fine, sandy peat, place about half an inch of white sand, 
clean and sharp, leaving a quarter of an inch of the pot not filled. 
Then press the whole moderately firm, -water with a fine rose, and 
place the pot aside during the preparation of the cuttings. Having 
selected them as previously described, with a sharp knife or pair of 
thin-bladed scissors cut away the foliage from the base of the shoot 
upwards, till you have arrived half an inch above the part intended 
to be the base of the cutting ; then with your knife separate the 
cutting from the other part by a diagonal incision, which is less 
liable to injure the tissues of the cutting than separating it hori- 
zontally. A perfectly smooth and uninjured base is essential to 
success. With a small dibble insert your cuttings the depth of the 
sand ; place over the whole a bell-glass, having previously, before 
the insertion of the cuttings, given the whole a slight watering; 
plunge the pot in a cool, shady situation, and wipe the moisture 
from the glass often. If in a mouth or so after the insertion of the 
cuttings you could give them the assistance of a gentle bottom-heat, 
the emission of roots w ill be accelerated. As the periods of rooting 
of the different species vary much — from five or six weeks to as 
many mouths — the quick-growing kinds and those of an opposite 
character should have separate pots. 
GRAFTING. 
is one of the nicest operations that can engage the 
ention of gardeners, and generally carries them on- 
rd through the spring months full of anticipation ; it 
3 been successfully performed during midsummer, as 
11 as in spring, although the following remarks bear 
principally upon the latter course. 
About the middle or end of February, select the grafts or scions 
from shoots of one year’s growth, reducing their length to six or 
eight inches, keeping each sort separate ; put them into the ground, 
there to remain until the sap shall have become active in the stocks 
February. 
