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Garden Work 
be taken off and treated in the same way as advised above, 
and inserted in sandy soil. Most of such cuttings like 
to have more or less bottom heat to make them heal over 
and send out young roots quickly. Such plants as Fuchsias, 
Lobelias, Ageratum, &c., may be treated in that way. 
Other plants require very different treatment: the shoots 
require to be ripened, and pieces of considerable length, 
from io to 12 in., should be taken. The softest part of 
the point, and also the hardest part at the base of the 
shoot, should be cut off with a sharp knife, just below a 
joint, and in the case of Gooseberries and Red Currants 
the buds should be rubbed out all but three or four at 
the apex. 
In Black Currants they should be made to produce a 
rootstock rather than a bush on a main stem. This 
kind of cuttings may be taken during the winter, heeled 
into moist sand, and planted in the open ground very early 
in spring. The method which should be adopted in plant- 
ing the cuttings is to make a good deep niche with the 
spade, 9 in. deep, quite straight down at the back, then 
put 2 in. of sharp sand in the bottom, and plant the cuttings 
perpendicularly, 3 in. apart, the base resting on the sand. 
Put in an inch or so more sand round the base of them, 
then fill up with soil, and tread firmly. The line may 
then be laid down 1 2 in. from the last row, another niche 
made, and so on. 
At the end of the first season the cuttings may be lifted 
and planted 12 in. apart in the rows, with 18 in. between 
the rows. 
Some cuttings will root well in bottles of water. 
If the tops of Dracaenas are cut with a sharp, clean 
