THE AMATEUR PROPAGATOR. 
No works indeed 
That ask robust, tough sinews, bred to toil 
Servile employ ; but such as may amuse, 
Not tire, demanding rather skill than force. 
J Cowper. 
LANTS of all kinds are to be obtained at such 
absurdly low prices now-a-days, that it is 
questionable whether it is hardly worth while 
for the amateur to take the trouble to propa¬ 
gate them himself. But, as one of the chief 
charms of gardening lies in raising plants from 
seed or cuttings, and tending them in their 
various stages of growth upward, until they 
produce lovely blossom, richly coloured or 
handsome foliage, or luscious fruits, the 
amateur gardener ought to know something of 
the wonderful art of propagation, if he is to 
derive the greatest amount of pleasure in the 
exercise of his favourite pursuit. He should, 
at any rate, have some knowledge of the manner of raising plants from seeds, 
also of the several methods of propagating them by cuttings, division, layering, 
