ON PROPAGATING ORANGES. 
165 
and the best time for putting them in, is just when the plants from 
which they are to be taken, have begun to grow. The time will 
therefore depend on the situation and treatment of the old plants. 
Wood of from one to thirty or forty years old, and cut to any length 
from eight to eighteen inches, will grow equally well; the larger and 
older the cuttings, the sooner they will make large plants and pro¬ 
duce fruit. At whatever age the wood is, let the cuttings he of equal 
length; so many of the leaves must be cut off, as will allow each 
cutting to be planted six inches deep. In gathering the cuttings, 
take a sharp knife and cut them right across, it does not signify 
whether at a joint or not. Use a pot eighteen inches deep, put a flat 
piece of tile over the hole at the bottom, cover the bottom an inch 
thick with moss, (Hvpnum) closely pressed, and upon that an inch 
thick of potsherds broken small, place the end of the cutting 
upon the potsherds, and fill up the pot with clean pit or river sand; 
water them well to settle the sand about the stems, plunge the pots 
in a gentle bottom heat either in a hot-bed or liot-house pit; if in 
the latter, put a hand or bell-glass over them, shading them from the 
sun. They will require no more water from the time they are put 
in, until they have taken root. When ready for potting, which will 
be in two or three months, the roots will be found wrapped amongst 
the moss, they must be carefully separated, allowing as much of the 
moss to adhere to the roots as possible, for it will tend greatly to 
prevent the sudden check which cuttings generally receive when 
first potted. When potted, place them in the same or a similar si¬ 
tuation to that they were in before, give them a gentle watering 
with a rose watering-pot; and when they have begun to grow, 
harden them by degrees. 
The following compost will be found most suitable for them to be 
potted in:-—Turf taken from a light soil about three inches deep, 
and laid in a heap till the grass and roots are decayed, peat earth, 
well rotted dung, leaf-mould, and clean pit or river sand, of each 
equal quantities, mixing them when wanted for use. 
Alexander C. Lambie. 
February 12 th, 1833. 
