62 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
The making of it is a very simple matter. Pieces of quar- 
tering are fixed at the back and front of the cutting-bed 
to keep the soil in position, and with two pieces of board 
to block up both ends of the bed, the erection is com- 
pleted. Rough soil — siftings of prepared compost prefer- 
ably — is filled in, in the bottom, and this makes capital 
drainage. Compost to the depth of about two inches is 
placed in the cutting^bed also, this neatly levelled, and a 
layer of sand distributed over the surface to complete the 
operation. 
If the cutting-bed can be arranged over the hot-water 
pipes (as illustrated in Chap. I.) it is a distinct advantage, 
as the process of rooting takes place so much quicker in 
consequence. Such a means of propagation will enable a 
grower to raise thousands of plants, and the same quar- 
ters, with a slight renewal of the compost frorr time to 
time, may be used for several months. 
How to Insert the Cuttings. — This, after all, is a very 
simple matter. In the case of cuttings inserted in boxes, 
and those, too, in the cutting-bed, they should be arranged 
in rows. Commence at the left corner of the box or 
cutting-bed by inserting a label with the name legibly 
written thereon. Follow with cuttings of the variety 
denoted, and keep these quite distinct from the next set. 
It is a good plan to place the cuttings in empty pots in 
moss, if a large quantity is prepared beforehand, and to 
place a label in each pot at the time they are prepared. 
With a small dibber about the size of an ordinary lead 
pencil in diameter, make a hole in the soil of sufficient 
depth to embed the cutting to the second joint, or rather 
less. The dibber will carry a small quantity of sand to 
the bottom of the hole, and on this base the cutting must 
rest. Press the soil rather firmly at the base of each cut- 
ting, finishing off neatly as the work proceeds, and con- 
tinue in this way until the box or cutting-bed is filled. 
When cuttings of a number of varieties are inserted in one 
box, as each new set is taken in hand, always see that the 
