58 Wisconsin State Horticultueal Society. 



sorrow. If there is any truth in what I have thus far written, the 

 cultivation of flowers ought to be encouraged, and in and about 

 every home, however rude and humble, they should find a place. 

 Would time permit, I should like to spread before you a list of 

 the most desirable varieties, and a detailed account of the methods 

 of propagating, cultivating and keeping them. There are scores 

 of species and thousands of varieties to select from, and most won- 

 derful improvements are being made every day, so that the most 

 fastidious taste may be gratified. The last ten years has added a 

 host of new and improved varieties to our collections, while their 

 cultivation as bedding and house plants has been greatly simpli- 

 fied. There are four methods of propagating plants, viz., seeds, 

 cuttings, layers and divisions of the roots. As by cuttings is the 

 most practical and expeditious, I will confine myself mostly to 

 that method. True, there are some that will not strike root very 

 readily, but there are enough that will for present purposes. For 

 cuttings professional florists use sections of the immature growth, 

 composed of one or more joints, and sometimes, where a variety 

 is scarce, split the joints, using only single eyes. With the facili- 

 ties afforded by the propagating house, professional cultivators 

 prefer very soft and immature wood, but as I am not writing to 

 instruct them, I will pass on for the benefit of amateurs, for such 

 as the professionals will succeed with, would only be a disap- 

 pointment to the latter. Cuttings should be taken from young 

 and thrifty newly formed wood of the plant, but the lower part 

 of them should not be too young and soft, else they are liable to 

 decay before a callous is formed. Nor is old, hard wood desira- 

 ble, as it will not absorb moisture enough to enable it to throw 

 out roots. A good rule for the amateur is to take the cutting off 

 at the junction of the old and new wood. In any case, it is bet- 

 ter to take the cutting off just below a good bud. Every element 

 of the perfect plant is found in the bud at the base, and the roots 

 of most plants will start directly from it, and if compelled to find 

 their way to the soil through an inch or more of useless wood, 

 they will frequently decay or become greatly enfeebled. The cut 

 should be made smooth, across the stem, with a sharp knife, that 

 the bark may not be bruised or the cells crushed. The lower 



