1 873-] NOTES ON PROPAGATION. 275 



useless^ dolt?, who do not care either for private study or self-improve- 

 raent. Doubtless there are black sheep in every flock ; but I am proud 

 to know that there are hundreds of hard-working, clear - thinking 

 young gardeners, who anxiously look for their copy of this or other 

 gardening periodical ; and not only do they read, but " mark, learn, 

 and inwardly digest," what is therein written for their guidance and 

 benefit. 



Propagation is effected by many different processes ; and it is the 

 duty and interest of the cultivator to discover and employ that plan or 

 course of procedure best suited to the requirements of the subject he 

 wishes to increase. A Fuchsia, for example, is easily multiplied ad 

 hifinifum by cuttings of the young wood. But suppose a Clematis is 

 the subject we wish to propagate, or a Dammara, we shall then find 

 that grafting a portion of wood similar to a cutting on pieces of the 

 roots is the most expeditious and effective plan. 



Although most " soft-wooded " and many " hard-wooded plants " are 

 readily propagated from cuttings of the young wood, still we need not 

 look far for exceptions to the general ^ rule. The Grape Vine, for 

 example, is best propagated from modified cuttings called " eyes," the 

 thoroughly-ripened wood of the previous season's growth being cut up 

 for the purpose ; and the same remark applies to Poinsettia pulcher- 

 rima. I may remark, that in some cases much time and trouble roay 

 be saved by inserting large cuttings. In the case of Justicea carnea, 

 Clerodendron fallax, and C. fragrans, I have repeatedly struck pieces 

 1 foot or more long, and having three or four pairs of fine leaves. 

 These are nice plants when rooted, which they will be in about a fort- 

 night if the cutting-pots are plunged in a slight bottom-heat, and 

 kept well sprinkled and moderately close. Again, the tops of Dra- 

 caenas, such as D. gracilis, D. congesta, D. terminalis, and D. Cooperii, 

 are easily struck if taken off with a clean cut, and plunged in bottom- 

 heat as recommended above. These tops may be taken off tall l^ggy 

 specimens, and rooted in three weeks, forming nice little specimens 

 for table-work, or for the drawing-room vases. If, however, they are 

 for the latter purpose, they must be carefully hardened off after being 

 taken from the propagating case. 



Many plants — as Gloxinias, large-leaved Begonias, and Bertolonias 

 — may be readily increased by pegging the leaves down on pans of 

 light earth surfaced with sand. The midribs and principal veins 

 should be partly severed with a sharp knife previous to their being 

 pegged down, and then several individuals will result from each sepa- 

 rate leaf so treated. 



Many plants are increased from what are technically called "off- 

 sets." These are produced naturally by many bulbous plants; but 



