ding, fir
branches, or heather, but the first is best, as it is easily removed to
attend to the bed. Conifers especially should be sown in beds, whether
indoors or outdoors, as pot-culture results in the roots taking the
shape of the pot, and never afterwards recovering from their cramped
condition. It must be remembered, however, that varieties cannot be
depended upon to come true from seed, though by careful selection for a
few years many varieties will almost reproduce the characteristics of
the parents. Hybrids, such as _Berberis stenophylla_, _Hypericum
moserianum_, and many others, also do not come true from seed, so that
cuttings, layers, or division of the old plants must be the practice
chosen.

SUCKERS.--Plants which throw up suckers from the base, or below the
ground-line, are easily propagated by detaching these suckers in winter
with a portion of root. They will grow away readily, and soon form good
trees or shrubs as the case may be.

CUTTINGS.--Nearly all the hardy shrubs, and a small proportion of hardy
trees also, can be propagated by cuttings taken at certain times of the
year. Summer cuttings are taken during the last two weeks of May and
throughout June, the actual time depending on the season, and consist of
the young shoots that have grown to a length of 3 to 6 inches. These
should be pulled off with a "heel," and inserted in sandy soil in a
close frame, with brisk bottom heat. The cuttings should be taken on a
dull day, or early in the morning, and kept cool and moist until they
are in the frame. A cutting that has flagged is useless, as it never
revives. Deciduous flowering shrubs are usually propagated by summer
cuttings, which generally root well in a fortnight or less. Autumn
cuttings are taken during August and September, and are made from the
partially ripened growths of the current year, inserted in sandy soil,
in a close frame, without bottom heat. Winter cuttings are made from
thoroughly ripened wood at any time between October and March, and are
laid in rather thickly in rows outdoors, and only about an inch or less
is left above the soil. The majority of our best flowering shrubs are
easily increased in this way.

LAYERS.--Excellent trees and shrubs can be got by layers, and they may
be laid down at any time of the year; they will be ready for removal in
about eighteen months or two years.

BUDDING.--This is done about August, and the same rules apply to trees
and shrubs as to Rose