54 
THE AMATEUR’S FLOWER GARDEN. 
accompanying leaf will suffice. Suppose we have a shoot 
of a verbena placed in our bands to make the most of it; we 
shall first cut it into as many lengths are there are joints, 
leaving each leaf untouched, and to every joint as much stem 
as can be got by cutting just over instead of just under the 
joints. Then with a sharp knife we split each of these joints 
in half, so as to have one bud and leaf to each split portion, 
and from every one of these we expect a good plant. 
The most convenient way of disposing of the cuttings is 
to dibble them into shallow pans filled with wet silver-sand, 
as fast as they are prepared. The best way for those who 
may have to leave the cuttings in the pans for any time after 
they have formed roots, is to prepare the pans with crocks 
for drainage, and over the crocks to spread an inch of chopped 
moss or peat torn up into small shreds, or cocoa-nut fibre 
dust, and then fill up to the brim with clean silver-sand. The 
sand should be quite wet when the cuttings are inserted; and 
when they have been regularly dibbled in with the aid of a 
bit of stick, or with the fingers only, it should be placed 
where there is a bottom-heat of GO 0 to 70°. A temperature of 
80° is allowable when time is an object, but at 60° better 
plants may be grown ; in fact, there is generally too much 
heat used. From the time of putting the cuttings in heat 
till they begin to grow, the temperature must be steady, and 
there must be regular supplies of water. But water given 
carelessly will surely entail losses. Probably the sand will 
retain sufficient moisture for eight or ten days, without need¬ 
ing to be wetted beyond what reaches it in the process of 
dewing the leaves. To dew the leaves neatly and timely is 
one of the most important matters. For the amateur, to 
whom a few minutes is no object, the best way is to dip a 
hard brush in water, then hold the brush beside the cuttings, 
and draw the hand briskly over it. This causes a fine spray 
to be deposited on the leaves, to prevent flagging; but if the 
water is given from the rose of a watering-pot, the cuttings,, 
if small, may be washed out of their places, or may be made 
too wet. 
A valuable contrivance for propagating plants in a sitting- 
room, or in a greenhouse, is the Propagating Case of Messrs. 
Barr and Sugden, of which figures are subjoined. It consists 
of a frame containing a bed of moist sand, on which to place 
the pots, and a boiler beneath, which is heated by a cjolza 
