25 
DECORATIVE VARIETIES. 
before it is actually required. Turn it over each day 
until the compost is filled into the different utensils, the 
interval elapsing being sufficient time for it to become 
quite sweet. Keep the rougher siftings under cover, as 
they will be wanted for covering the crocks, and for the 
drainage of the shallow boxes. 
Inserting the Cuttings. — By means of a dibber, insert 
either singly in thumb pots or three or more close to the 
inside of a three-inch pot. Insert each cutting to the 
second joint, and make the soil quite firm, adding, of 
course, a label containing the name of the variety. Give 
each pot a gentle tap on the potting bench to settle the 
soil. 
Treatment of the Cuttings. — When the whole of the 
cuttings for the day are inserted, they should be watered 
in with clear water that is slightly tepid. Use a fine- 
rosed can, of which there are now several very excellent 
examples, and give just a gentle “ dewing ” overhead. 
If the pots of cuttings be gone over two or three times 
in this way, the soil will be nicely moistened. They 
should then be left to drain for a time, after which they 
should be arranged in the quarters allocated to them. At 
this period a small glass structure, which may be kept 
fairly close, and in which the temperature can be main- 
tained in the neighbourhood of fifty degrees, will answer 
admirably. The pots should be stood on a cool and moist 
bottom. Sifted ashes, cocoanut-fibre refuse, spent hops, 
or sea shells are each of service during the period of pro- 
pagation. Arrange the pots, etc., evenly and quite level; 
this is important when watering subsequently. The cut- 
tings will assuredly flag, but this need not give the grower 
cause for anxiety. So long as fairly close conditions 
prevail, and the temperature can be maintained at the 
figure already mentioned, rooting process will take place 
in a few weeks, and the flagging leaves will one by one 
pick up and regain their former vigour as a consequence. 
A suitable propagator can be easily fixed over the hot- 
water pipes, as shown in accompanying sketch. 
u 2 
