64 HOUSE PLANTS 



make at least one new plant. When the 

 new growth is 2 J to 3 inches long, it is taken 

 off the old stem and put in the cutting bench 

 just like any cutting of the stem. The old 

 stem is left in the sand for it frequently 

 will provide more cuttings. 



The bouvardia (one of the best plants 

 one can grow for cut flowers at Christmas 

 time) is increased in much the same way, 

 but instead of cutting the stem into small 

 pieces the root is cut up and the pieces 

 treated exactly as if they were seeds. 



PROPAGATING BY LEAVES 



That new plants can be made from the 

 leaves of old plants is a never failing source 

 of interest to a great many people. The 

 plant which is most commonly propa- 

 gated this way is Begonia Rex. Take an old 

 leaf and turn it upside down on a board, 

 and with a sharp knife cut the veins. Then 

 place the leaf right side up on damp sand, 

 pin it down with toothpicks which have 

 been bent in two, and shade it. At each 

 cut in the leaPs vein a new plant will be 

 formed. As soon as they have made a 

 couple of small leaves separate the young 



