THE AMATEUR’S FLOWER GARDEN. 
55 
lamp or jet of gas. It is an elegant hotbed in miniature, and 
will be found as entertaining as it is useful in the multiplica¬ 
tion of bedding plants. 
PORTABLE PROPAGATING PRAME. 
Less difficult, but of far greater importance to the amateur, 
are the methods adopted for propagating plants during the 
summer and autumn. A few amongst the bedding plants may 
be multiplied by simply dividing the roots and planting again 
in a shady spot, or potting the divided pieces in small pots in 
which they are to be wintered for planting out in the parterre 
the following spring. But a majority of the most useful 
plants are multiplied by cuttings during July, August, and 
September, and are thus well rooted for storing in pits and 
frames during winter. In every case that admits of this practice 
it should be adopted, both because it occasions the least amount 
of labour, and insures far better plants than can be obtained 
by propagating in spring. The most important of the subjects 
requiring to be propagated in summer and autumn are gera¬ 
niums and calceolarias. The first of these may be planted in 
any open border in the full sun, but it is better to prepare a 
somewhat sandy plot of ground in a partially shaded spot, for 
although the fiercest heat of the sun will not kill geranium 
cuttings, it is not altogether beneficial. Prepare the cuttings 
from ripe stout shoots, rather than from the softest green shoots, 
though if you begin in July, the softest shoots may be rooted 
if favoured with a little extra care. Cut them into pieces 
