89 



The best plants of geranium and coleus and many window plants are 

 those which are not more than one year old. The cuttings which are 

 made in January, February, or March, will give compact blooming 

 plants for the next winter ; and thereafter new ones take their place. 

 Some plants may be propagated by means of cuttings of leaves. 

 The Kex begonias or " beefsteak geraniums " are tlie commonest 

 examples. The large, nearly mature leaf is divided into triangular 

 pieces, each piece containing at its point a bit of tho^ leaf-base(topof 

 the leaf -stalk). This kind of cutting is shown in Fig. 52. This base 

 is sometimes split (as at o) by 

 gardeners to hasten the formation 

 of roots. Only the tip of the 

 cutting is stuck into the sand ; 

 otherwise it is treated like other 

 softwood cuttings. 



The Hardwood Cutting. 



Many plants grow readily from 

 cuttings of ripe or dormant wood. 

 The willows cast their branchlets 

 in snow and Mdnd, and these, 

 falling in pleasant places, propa- 

 gate their kind ; and thus the 

 river sides and the lake shores 

 become willow crowned. 



Grapes, currants, gooseberries, 

 poplars, readily take root from 

 the hard wood. Fig. 53 shows a currant cutting. It has only one 

 bud above the ground. 



Best results are attained when the cuttings are made in the fall, 

 and then buried until spring in sand in the cellar. They are not 

 idle while they rest. The lower end calluses or heals, and the roots 

 form more readily when the cutting is planted in the spring. But 

 if the children are interested, take cuttings at any time in winter, 

 plant them in a deep box in the window, and watch. They will 

 need no shading or special care. 



31 481 



51. — Old geranium plant cut back to 

 make it throio out shoots from 

 which cuttings can he made. 



