Propagating Case and Trays.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 317, 17 November 1888, Page 6

Propagating Case and Trays.

Osr&rff, fciti 1 chief difficulties Limb' bhb fan\a- [ 'bBU>"*propng\fcb?%icn'fcs with in'ron'ting cutting of many kinds' of plants, says a wrilor iira'n* American -paper, is a* lack of bottom' htsab.' 1 -" Top lieab ho can jreb casilybnough ; bnt'UottSm'-licfifc* is the key to success 'in* propagating plants bv cuttings, as every gardener and florisb well knows. i send a ''Icdtrli of'd " prdpagating 1 i-ase " that, judging; from mv owfi'expononoe with it, will* m.e.Gl ;;,dl ,fclie requirement^ ot the nir.afccur florist, and enablo him co compete successfully with the bet.6 appointed «rrecniiou.soin' the* world in rooting- a Hmifced'nninber of ro§es and other favourito or high-priced plarjts. ■ (Sep. cut.). .It if simply a box 10 inchqs dc6]i,!and a.s t lon<_j and wk|e as, may be'ti'esired. 1 Tho'boSc is made bf inch thick stuffr and, in'it is placed ti fialvariizccl iron or tin Uank 10 inches deep, aiuVtlireo indie's les&.in^diatneter than the«.in§ide,9f.the box. The "one and a Jialf inch -of f-pacq ,hetweqn the tank "and the sides f bf the box shriuid be 13ack«d-'\viilf >nwdust/ v " At one side i< a tilling tube, as shown -in the sketch, and a faucet for drawing' oft the water. A few -pltfnt^trtiy^ to,ur v ai'Klie^ <h3pp* " nndilarc'e' eiidfifeK wtclo\jeiy s hb inside fe'lfd { uppeVp f aY& < of the case over the tank, are needed. They should bs .mn'dc of'halT-inch'^bufi. If desired tlnjy may be made one or two -inches deeper aVd have a glass co\ er to fit ovei t))e top.

Put about three- inches of sand, or fine, friable soil in. one of these crays, set the cuttings in it, iill the tank with hot. water, aucL-keep it hot, or quite warm, by drawing off a portion daily £*nd replacing with more that is boilinuf. • In a Sew days the plants in the tiay will be rooted and it can be taken out,and another tilled with cntbiags pub in ifcs place. After bhe plants in the 'first tray have hardened oil' a low days they may bo potted, or'bransplanted to the open border. If it .is desired to root the plants in thumb poj;s, 3e,t the pots close together in the tray -and v paek "with t?and or moss, and; they wijlf-root. quite as readily as on the greenhouse .bench. *, With .a small > propagating case like this, and a few, .plant* trays to match, an immense number of cuttings cm be rootrd for, the house or borders. It is also well adapted to starting plants of all kinds from see*3, especially tbo.-e ..of &* delicate nature.^ In starting se.e/J.s it i.s best to h&ve a gla?s cover ou the tray arianjrcd so it can be drawn aside a little at a time as the plants come,u.p. All, seedling plants must have abundance of Hsht and air to preventvthem fiom.bo'comij|)g drawn, or damping off. . .