The Amateur Propagator . 
the soil intended for the cuttings or seed is placed. The pipe-like projection 
in the centre serves the double purpose of a handle for lifting the body of soil 
and cuttings out for potting, and providing the means of replenishing the 
water, which, of course, soon becomes exhausted through evaporation. 
When the cuttings are first inserted a large pane of glass can be put over the 
top, and the rooting process greatly accelerated in consequence. This is the 
invention of Messrs. Pascall & Son, Norwood. Another similar contrivance 
(Fig. 14) consists of a zinc trough, fifteen inches long, six inches wide, and 
six inches deep, with a perforated bottom, to drain off surplus water, and a 
concave bottom made so as to fit a four-inch hot-water pipe. A dish or pan 
six inches in depth, with a perforated bottom, is made to fit inside the trough, 
Fig. is. 
for the purpose of holding soil on which to sow seeds and to insert cuttings, 
the top of the dish being furnished with a rabbet to receive a sliding pane of 
glass, and a handle at each end to enable the dish to be lifted out readily 
when required. The outside of the trough and dish is enamelled. In this 
case the space between the bottom of the trough and dish is occupied by 
an inch layer of indestructible asbestos fibre instead of the water. The 
asbestos absorbs five times its own weight of moisture, consequently it is only 
needful occasionally to sprinkle it with water to maintain a pure, sweet, moist, 
and mild heat. Messrs. Toope and Son, Stepney, are the patentees of this 
contrivance. 
