December  8,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
439 
Although  it  is  usually  considered  best  to  insert  the  laie  dowering 
varieties  early  in  December,  the  midseason  varieties  late  in  the  month 
or  in  January,  and  the  October-flowering  varieties  in  January  and 
February,  this  is  only  chiefly  necessary  with  exhibition  varieties,  and 
provided  proper  cuttings  can  be  secured  at  the  periods  named.  Rather 
than  insert  weak  or  inferior  cuttings  at  a  set  date  it  is  much  better 
A  suitable  compost  for  rooting  the  cuttincs  consists  ol  loam  anil 
leaf  soil,  two  parts  of  the  former  to  one  of  the  latter,  with  a  fiee 
admixture  of  sand — sharp  silver  sand.  Mix  these  thoroughly  together 
in  a  moderately  moist  state  so  that  the  mixture  will  be  in  a  healthy 
condition,  neither  wet  nor  dry.  The  most  useful  sizes  of  pots  to 
insert  the  cuttings  in  are  “thumbs”  and  3-inch  pots.  The  thumbs 
Fig.  75.— NELLIE  POCIvETT. 
to  wait  until  cuttings  have  improved  or  others  thrown  up  from  the 
stools.  The  best  cuttings  have  good  clear  central  growth,  and  possess 
no  flower  buds.  They  ate  the  growths  from  suckers  extending  from 
the  base  below  the  soil,  the  cuttings  rising  through  and  developing 
short,  sturdy  growth.  These  are  ready  to  be  inserted  when  3  or 
4  inches  long. 
will  receive  one  cutting  placed  in  the  centre ;  the  larger  size 
several  may  be  placed  round  the  edge,  where  they  readily  take  root. 
The  pots  must  be  cleaned  and  well  drained,  covering  the  crocks  with 
a  little  damp  moss  or  rough  material  from  the  compost.  Fill  in  the 
soil  well  above  the  rim  and  shake  it  down  to  a  level  just  below  it, 
surfacing  with  sand. 
