CUTTINGS AND SLIPS. 
37 
covering. I have found hay to be the best covering,, 
as it lies light on the Plants, and being dry, it takes 
nearly all the frost. 
CUTTINGS AND SLIPS. 
Cuttings and slips are taken from the mother Plant 
for the purpose of setting out, in order that they may 
make roots and form young Plants. Now in order to 
keep them alive till they have formed roots, it is usual 
to cover them with glass to prevent the moisture from 
evaporating from their leaves, and the soil from drying 
too fast. The cuttings that are slow of rooting are 
much forwarded by being placed in a hot-bed, and 
many kinds will not root without it, although many of 
the common kinds of Plants as Geranium, Rose, Cal¬ 
ceolaria, &c., and many of the soft wooded Plants will 
root by being planted in pots, and placed in the con¬ 
servatory or window, and shaded from the sun, and if 
the soil in the pots is kept a little moist they will root 
readity. Cuttings of woody Plants take root best in 
fine sand, and a little peat soil well mixed with it, for 
they strike more freely in it, and are easier to pot ofi^ 
since the sand shakes clean from their roots which 
are very tender and are easily broken, but as the soft- 
wooded and Frutescent Plants will not root well in 
the sand, they must be planted in mould or sandy 
loam. In making cuttings, no more leaves should be 
