CUTTINGS. 51 
endency to throw out roots; and even the erect side-shoots are 
vonsidered preferable to those which grow at t the upper part of the 
plant. The best season for making cuttings is summer, when the 
sap is in full motion; as the returning sap is then most likely to form 
the ring or mass of accumulated matter from which the new roots 
are to spring. Jt has been already mentioned under the head of 
layers, that it is from the joints only that roots can be expected to 
grow; and, accordingly, in making cuttings, the shoot is divided 
just below a joint; and it is generally reckoned best to choose a 
joint at the point of junction between the young wood and the 
wood of the previous season. The cut should be quite smooth ; as, 
if the shoot be bruised, the returning sap will not be able to reach 
the joint in a sufficient quantity to effect the desired end. Some 
plants are much more difficult to strike as cuttings than others; but 
some, such as the willow, the currant, the vine, &c., will throw out 
roots not only from the joints, but from every part of the ‘stem. 
These plants do not require sc much care as to cutting off at a joint; 
as they will throw out roots from whatever part may be put into the 
ground, but even they succeed best when properly prepared. 
The cutting being taken off, and the division at the joint being 
made perfectly smooth, several of the leaves should be cut off close 
to the stem, with a sharp knife; and a hole being made in the soil, 
the cutting should be put in, and the earth pressed close to its ex- 
tremity, or it will never strike out roots. This necessity of the part 
which is to send out roots being fixed firmly in the soil, has been 
already mentioned with regard to seeds, transplanted trees, and 
layers; and this necessity exists with equa: or greater force with re- 
gard to cuttings. When these are made in a pot, the cutting will 
much more readily strike (as gardeners call its throwing out shoots), 
if it rest against the side of the pot, or even against the bottom. 
Cuttings may be struck in the open ground, and in the common 
soil, without any covering; but these cuttings are only of those 
plants which strike readily. When struck in pots, it is customary 
to fill the pots half, or entirely full of silver sand, to prevent the stalk 
of the cutting from having too much moisture round it. Those cut- 
tings which are most liable to be injured by moisture, such as heaths, 
c., are struck in pots filled entirely with sand; but as there is no 
nourishment to be derived from sand, most cuttings do best with 
their lower end in earth, and with only sand about an inch, or two 
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