September 23. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
them into lengths, put them into pots filled with light 
soil, which ho pressed down tight to each cutting, 
plunged these pots of cuttings into a gentle bottom- 
heat, watering but little till they showed signs of growth, 
and soon had the satisfaction of finding his cuttings 
produce roots, which, as soon as he perceived, ho potted 
them off into small pots, and kept them in a cold frame 
till they were well established and ready for planting out. 
Hut this was not all; the side flower-stems were cut off, 
and every joint, 'whether it had leaves or not, was cut 
off just below the joint, leaving about an inch of the 
stem above the joint. Each joint had a dormant bud, 
which, when isolated, and placed in shallow pots, in a 
gentle stimulative, started into growth, and soon showed 
a shoot projecting above the soil; this, in time, as the 
leaves unfolded, pushed forth roots, and formed a plant. 
This method, with which we were much pleased, shows 
that wherever a bud is, it contains within itself the germ 
of an entire plant, which, when correctly managed, can 
be formed into a plant, equal in vigour, and in every 
way as perfect an individual as the plant from which it 
was cut or taken. 
This propagation should, of course, be performed as 
soon as possible. Cuttings are not safe to put in later 
than August, because there would then be a danger of 
such very young plants being not carried safely through 
the winter. T. Appleby. 
(To be continued.) 
THE TAN-BED AND ITS USES. 
As some details relative to a hot-water-heated pit were 
entered into last week, and a desci-iption of one given 
capable of serving many purposes, I now take up the 
subject of the far-from-dospicable bark-bed, or, as some 
will have it, “ tan-bed,” which, though an agent of heat 
less under our command than “ fire or water,” or both 
combined, is yet of too much importance to bo hastily 
discarded, especially when its claims to economy are 
considered from its not requiring that “night atten¬ 
tion” which the amateur, or his assistant, cannot well 
spare the fire-heated structure; independent of this, too, 
the cost of pipes, boilers, flues, and fire-places, aro very 
important items in the building expenses of a pit of auy 
kind ; and although no pit ought to be without them in 
some shape, where much winter forcing is going on, 
still the bark-bed has its claim, and we shall bo sorry to 
see it discarded altogether. In fact, many fire-heated 
houses are indebted to the bark-bed for furnishing 
their inmates with the bottom-heat necessary to their 
welfare; and this is very well exemplified in the “pine- 
pit,” where plants in pots are plunged in this kindly- 
fermenting material, more especially if it be in the \ 
neighbourhood of a town. In remote country places 
tan is less plentiful, and tree leaves being more abund¬ 
ant they aro often substituted, and when good they 
furnish a nice and lasting modo of applying bottom- 
heat, which some prefer to tan; but as the beat from 
tan is brisker, and, when well-tempered, equally lastiug, 
I like, on the whole, the tan-pit best; and when plants 
are to be plunged, and a smooth agreeable surlacc made, 
it certainly has many advantages over leaves; and as 
many of our readers are unable to obtain the latter, we 
will at once address ourselves to the duty of describing 
the uses to which a bark-bed may be put, and which we 
also presume to be without any other mode of heating. 
To the amateur residing in the neighbourhood of 
a town, where tan can bo had very reasonably, and 
where, perhaps, his whole forcing department, or even 
area of glass, consists of some three or four lights, the 
bark-bed offers many advantages. On it he may grow 
his cucumbers for spring and early summer use; or he 
may, prior to using it for that purpose, use it as a propa- 
300 
gating pit, where he may strike his flower-garden plants 
by wholesale. Strawberries may also be forced on such 
a place, and many other duties may be confided to the 
bark-bed. When its duties are confined to such purposes 
as tho above, and the amateur wishes to make it so 
accessible that his lady friends may be enabled to look 
into it without encountering the difficulties of climbing 
a dung-heap, or a precipitous wall, it nlay be built with¬ 
out any arrangement for heating by linings, as well- 
prepared tan will retain its heat long enough to mature 
any of the crops mentioned above; even melons may bo 
safely grown thus; and as tan cannot well be piled up 
against any object without having a wall to rest against, 
an extra wall in back and front adds materially to the 
expense of the whole, besides being in the way of the 
contents of the pit being seen, or work done there. Now, 
though we have had tan-pits, with linings applied ad¬ 
vantageously, and have seen others, “Mill’s pit,” for 
instance, heated entirely by linings, yet, when that 
appendage seems necessary, we think the pit deserves 
“fire heat” in some shape or other; and assuredly the 
improvements of the last few years in applying them, 
have driven “linings,” in a great measure, out of the 
trade. That the interior bed will retain its place some 
time longer, wo firmly believe; but it is only in very few 
cases that its adjunct “ linings ” will be granted a place. 
A very good and useful bed or pit may bo made by 
excavating the ground about a foot or eighteen inches 
(not more), then building the walls, which may bo of 
half brick in front, with occasional nine-inch pillars, 
but the back wall ought to bo a nine-inch one, as we 
suppose its height inside to be about five feet or more, 
the front one about fifteen inches lower; this inclination 
will do for a six-feet light,—the wall-plate and rafters 
all being right, and well-glazed lights, with squares not 
too large, being put on, we will now see to filling tho 
interior. 
A new beginner has some disadvantages to en¬ 
counter in this respect. New tan is a fiery, obstinate 
servant, at times; if, therefore, you cannot obtain auy 
old, means must be taken to dry such as you have as 
much as possible, as the liquor with which it is charged 
forms the heating or fermenting power. This is easily 
accomplished in summer, but it is seldom wanted then; 
however, the drying winds we have in winter will do 
much that way; so if there be any dry open shed in 
which it can be spread thinly, and frequently turned, it 
will speedily part with a portion of its daugerous com¬ 
pound ; should this not appear practicable, and the pit 
and its heating powers be wanted immediately, a less 
quantity than usual must be put in, and some inert 
substance put in the bottom, in order that the heated 
portion may be the proper distance from the glass. It 
is no uncommon thing to see a bottom-heat of leaves 
having a tan top, on which the plants are plunged; but 
as this may not be attainable, any other substance will 
do, as in this case it is understood that the tan itself 
forms the heating contrivance; but let it be remembered 
that this half-quantity of rank-heating material will not 
retain its warmth half so long as the proper quantity 
well-seasoned and prepared; so that, except for urgent 
cases, or when plants are temporarily plunged, and can 
at any period be removed, we would not advise its 
adoption; but there is one advantage—tan is, or may bo 
prepared for use in a more permanent way, and when 
opportunity offers, the bed may be renewed by removing 
all the foundation part, and thoroughly blending the old 
and new tan together, and filling the pit the proper 
height. A depth of three feet is sufficient for a tan-bed, 
under any circumstances; more maybe given, but we 
think it superfluous; though much depends on the 
quality of the article, and other particulars. Old tan 
that has been in use some years becomes decayed, and 
in that powdered state its heating powers are gone; it 
