The Amateur Propagator . 
71 
This pan is useful for many purposes. Boxes are largely employed for raising 
plants, and they answer quite as well for common use. Fig, chocolate, and 
sweet boxes, generally averaging one to three inches in depth, and of various 
sizes, are the most suitable. For raising annuals and “ striking ” cuttings 
of bedding plants they are better than pots or pans, because a 
larger number can be accommodated in a limited space. 
Other indispensable appliances are a quantity of clean potsherds, 
or cinders free from dust, and some common moss, dry tree leaves, 
and rough fibry stuff, such as has been removed from the soil when 
st sifting it. These materials are necessary for draining the pots and 
pans. The next thing required is a stout piece of board, six 
inches square, with a short handle attached to one of its sides, 
called a “ presser.” This is required for pressing the soil level 
and firmly in the boxes and square pans ; a circular one is also 
useful. Then a small piece of wood of the thickness of a cedar 
pencil, and pointed at one end, as shown at Fig 2, is needed for 
inserting cuttings. At least three sieves are also requisite, one of 
Fj(y 2 which should be of a very fine mesh, so as to pass sand or soil 
in minute particles for covering fine seeds, the others having 
meshes of one-eighth and one-sixteenth of an inch respectively. Some 
squares of glass, and one or more cloches or bell-glasses, a keen-bladed 
budding knife, a fine-rosed water-can, and a few sheets of brown or white 
paper, complete the list of minor appliances. 
Last of all, but certainly not the least important, of the needful propagating 
appliances, are the various contrivances essential for raising plants from seed 
or cuttings—namely, propagators and frames. Of the former there are severa 
