98 PROPAGATION BY GRAFTING. [^'J/- 
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 off 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 degrees, will be in 
from two to three weeks. Where a great stock of any par- 
ticular 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, they 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. 
Propagation by Grafting. — Where only a few plants are 
wanted, this is a very successful method, as an operation can 
be conducted in the office or parlour 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 
