Propagation by Cuttings. 185 
As here considered, propagation by sections of the plant 
includes two methods, differing materially in their require- 
ments and in the manner of development of the plants, viz., 
propagation by cuttings and by grafting. | 
a — Propagation by Cuttings. 
358. A Cutting is a detached member of a plant in- 
tended to be placed in the soil, or some other medium, for 
propagation (340). It may be in an active, or a dormant 
state (13) and may or may not contain a growing point (67). 
Before the cutting can become a plant, it must develop the 
essential part or parts of the plant that it lacks; i. e., the 
stem and the leaves, or the root, or all these members. 
Cuttings of the stem are usually planted with their proximal 
(116) end in the soil, and their distal end in the air. Root 
cuttings are generally covered in the soil. 
359. Nearly All Plants may be Propagated by Cut= 
tings from one or another of their parts. The ease with which 
plants may be multiplied in this way varies greatly in differ- 
ent species (21), and even in different varieties of the same 
species, The external appearance of a plant is not always 
an indication of the facility with which it may be grown 
from cuttings; the only sure way to ascertain this is by trial. 
Climate exerts a marked influence upon the tendency of 
plants to develop from cuttings. In certain locations in 
southern Europe, and in parts of South America, branches 
of the common apple tree, sharpened and driven into the 
ground as stakes, often take root, and sometimes even bear 
fruit during the same season. A warm, moist atmosphere 
is very favorable to propagation by cuttings. 
We have seen that the roots of certain plants normally 
peyeop buds (131). In like manner, the stems of many 
