cress leaves, cut up by a bird for its nest, " produce presently from their base and 

 below the common petiole, at first two or three colorless roots, then, in their centre, 

 a small, conical bud, from which successively arise all the aerial parts of a new 

 water-cress plant, while the roots multiply and lengthen. 



M. Flourens also mentions a case of Purslane, whose leaves, divided into three, 

 produced as many new plants, each having a root, stem, and leaves. In the Trans- 

 actions of the London Horticul- 

 tural Society, is an account of a 

 Zamia, each of whose scales (see 

 figure below) produced a new plant, 

 when the central part of the stem 

 was decayed. 



Some leaves of mint (Mentha 

 piperita) were planted, without 

 any portion of the substance of 

 the stems upon which they had 

 grown, in small pots, and sub- 

 jected to artificial heat under glass. 

 They emitted roots, and lived more 

 than twelve months, having natu- 

 ral roots. 



In gardens, we have many in- 

 stances of the same kind. Hoya, 

 or the wax plant, is a common in- 

 stance ; Gesnera, Clianthus puni- 

 cens. Gloxinia speciosa, are also 

 well known, but it is probable that 

 most leaves, when separated from 

 their parent, are incapable of doing 

 so for reasons which we are not 

 yet able to explain. The scales 

 of a bulb will, with some certainty, 

 produce new plants under favor- 

 able circumstances, viz : a strong 

 bottom heat, moderate moisture, 

 and a rich, stimulating soil. 



Leaves intended for cuttings, 

 should be taken from about the 

 middle of a branch. Gloxinia, 

 Bryophillum, Lilies, &c., may be 

 experimented upon by the amateur. 

 If we wish to get on very quickly, 

 the midrib on the lower face of 

 the leaf may be broken in several 

 places, without injuring the limb, 

 and so lightly that the broken places can scarcely be distinguished ; the lower face 

 of the leaf is then placed on the earth of a pot. Soon at each fracture a little 

 callus develops itself, which gives rise to roots as seen on next page, c. Some 

 leaves, when employed as cuttings, send out roots and buds at each incision, as in 

 Ileraionitis palmata, Bryophillum, &c. ; d, shows how this effect is produced. 

 Time is required to accomplish this, and especial attention must be paid to bury 

 the end of the petiole, or the base of the leaf; e, represents Theopli 



Scale of Zamia sproutine 



YoL. VII.— April, 1851. 



12 



