Sets

Sets are the tubers, or portions of tubers, employed for propagating tuberous-rooted plants. It may be accepted as a rule universally applicable to them, that a moderately-sized whole tuber is always to be preferred to a cutting of a tuber. The latter are invariably more subject to failure, but if employed, it is a good plan to roll them in gypsum powder. This checks the escape of their sap, and is friendly to vegetation.

Seymeria

Two species. Hardy annuals. Seeds. Peaty soil.

Shallot

See Eschalot.

Sharp Cedar

Acacia oxycedrus and Juniperus oxycedrus.

Shears

Shears are of various kinds, differing in form according to the purpose for which they are intended. Hedge-shears for clipping hedges are the most common.

Sliding Pruning Shears with a moveable centre so as to make a drawing cut when used as when the pruning knife is employed. See Averruncator. The drawing shows the smaller size, used with one hand. See Scissors. The large size, which has wood ; handles, will, when em-ployed with both hands, cut through a bough full three inches in circumference, with the greatest ease.

Verge Shears are merely the hedge shears set nearly at a right angle on long handles for the convenience of the gardener in clipping the sides of box edging, and the verge of grass plots. Turf Shears are set also at an angle, but in a different direction for cutting the tops of edgings, and grass growing in corners unapproachable by the scythe.

Sheep Laurel

Kalmia angusti-folia.

Shells

See Animal Matters.

Shelter

See Screen.

Shepherdia

Two species. Hardy deciduous trees. Layers. Peat and loam, or common soil.

Shepherd's Beard. Arnopogon

Fig. 156.

Shepherd's Club

Verbascum Thapsus.

Shifting

See Potting and One-shift System.

Shreds

Shreds for fastening trees to walls are best made of the list or selvage torn from black or blue cloth, and may be obtained of any tailor. The smallest possible number of shreds, and the narrowest consistent with strength should be employed ; for wherever the shred envelops the branch, the wood beneath is never so well ripened as those parts exposed to the light and air, which are so essential to enable the bark to assimilate and separate from the sap those secretions which are required for the next year's growth. Shreds should always be long enough to permit the ends to be doubled over, so that the nail may pass through four thicknesses of the cloth, otherwise they look ragged and are liable to tear away from the nail. If old shreds are re-used, they should be previously boiled for a few minutes to destroy any insect-eggs, or larvae they may contain.

Shrivelling

Shrivelling of the berries of the grape in stoves arises from the roots of the vine not supplying a sufficiency of sap. This occurs if the roots are in a cold heavy soil, or are vegetating in an outside border, the temperature of which is too low compared with that of the stove. In the first case, thorough draining and the incorporation of calcareous rubbish; and in the second case, protection to the border and stem, will remove the evil.