Choose a sheltered and partially shady border for the insertion of the cuttings, and be sure that the soil is not stiff and water-logged, but fine, rather inclined to sandy, and moderately dry. It should be well forked over and cleaned of weeds, large stones being also removed. The cuttings may be made of the present year’s growth, with a small portion—“heel” it is generally termed—of the old wood, and cut clean across beneath where a bud or shoot has protruded. Until a sufficient quantity has been made, they should be stuck loosely in a heap of sand or soil, and in the shade. Cuttings should be taken from the sunny side of a tree or shrub. In planting the cuttings, stretch a garden line along the previously prepared ground, and, having removed a trench about 6 in. deep, by cutting in a perpendicular manner with a spade along the front of the line, proceed to place the cuttings not too closely together, and leaning somewhat backwards in the trench cut out. This being done, it is always well, so as to hasten the formation of roots, to sprinkle a small quantity of sand or grit along at the base of the cuttings, at the same time regulating these as to their distances apart and upward inclination, the remaining portion of the trench being filled up with the soil formerly removed. Firm tramping is one of the chief points to be observed, as cuttings will not take at all quickly in loose soil. The line should then be moved forwards about 12 in. and the same method of procedure followed until the whole of the cuttings are inserted. For such shrubs as the common and Portugal laurel, privet, box, euonymus, laurestinus, aucuba, etc., the above method will be found the quickest and best for raising young plants from cuttings. It should be stated that cuttings taken from the sunny side of a tree or shrub always root more freely, and turn out a greater number of plants, than such as have been cut from the shady side—indeed, this point should be carefully borne in mind and acted upon. Conifers, such as the various species of Cupressus, Juniperus, the Wellingtonia, etc., are also readily raised from cuttings inserted in the ground out of doors. It is, however, well to put such cuttings in boxes, so that they have the advantage of being placed in an unheated frame, this greatly enhancing the speedy formation of roots. Two or three large frames are always useful in the nursery for the reception of choice cuttings, seeds, etc., and if boxes, say, 24 in. by 14 in. by 5 in., are made just to suit the dimensions of the frames, a great number of young plants, cuttings, and seeds of the less common kinds will find a beneficial protection. The boxes should be made of stout wood, and have six holes bored in the bottom of each, so that the excess water may readily pass away. Before planting these, fill each with a mixture of half sand, half soil, broken finely down, the cuttings being inserted in small holes made by a sharp-pointed stick.