STOVE AND GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 221 



put in motion, by the application of heat. As an exception to this 

 rule, may be adduced sand ; which is of very great utility to mix 

 with the loam, should it happen to be rather stiff for the nature of 

 the cutting: but then, the sand proper for this use is of so pure a 

 nature in itself, that it is evident, it cannot have the effect noticed 

 above in regard to mixed soils. 



Tn the choice of cuttings, preference should be given to the firm- 

 est wood of the same year's growth ; and of these, only such whose 

 leaves have attained their full size, and proper colour, which are 

 generally to be selected from the lateral shoots ; as the upright lead- 

 ing ones are mostly too luxuriant to make good cuttings. I have 

 observed that cuttings of many plants, if taken from the lateral shoots, 

 never become proper erect stems ; but are inclined at all times to 

 form an irregular, bushy, weak head : this is not of small importance 

 to such collectors as cultivate plants merely for the flower; as such 

 heads generally produce them sooner than luxuriant leaders. To the 

 lovers of handsome erect plants, I would, however, recommend to 

 choose their cuttings from the upright shoots, early in the season, 

 before the}' acquire that luxuriance of growth so unfit for the pur- 

 poses of propagation. The tops of the shoots are to be preferred, 

 unless they happen to flag before used. To prepare them for insertion, 

 most of the leaves must be trimmed off close to the stem, leaving 

 only a few at the top, to allow a free respiration of the air necessary 

 to the life of the plant. This is a most essential article in the art of 

 making cuttings, particularly those of evergreens ; for if they are 

 deprived entirely of their leaves, or that they otherwise flag, or oc- 

 casionally fall off soon after they are put in, there will be little or no 

 chance of their growing. The reason is obvious, because the inhe- 

 rent sap of the cutting, being deprived of these organs of respiration 

 that kept it in motion, and the cutting having no roots by the efforts 

 of which to produce new leaves, the sap, consecmently, becomes stag- 

 nated in the pores of the wood ; which, like the stagnation of the 

 blood in animals, in all likelihood prove mortal, by occasioning an 

 immediate mortification. 



In shortening each cutting to the most convenient length, care 

 must be taken to do it with a clean cut, in a transverse direction ; 

 and by no means should they be left exposed, or to lie any consider- 

 able time before planted. In planting, a small dibble or other con- 

 venient instrument should be used to press the loam sufficiently tight, 

 to the base of the cutting, as that is the principle part to be made fast ; 

 as soon as the whole are inserted, and the surface of the mould made 

 level and a little firm, give them a gentle watering to settle them ; 



