CUT 



183 



CUT 



for the generality of plants. The cutting been considered totally incapable of 



should be as siiort as possible consist- such extension. Thus M. Neumann 



ently wiili the object in view. Three has succeeded with the Thcophra^tn 



or four leaves, or even two, if the cut- latifolia; and going a step further, he 



ting be very short, are abundant. They has even bisected a leaf, and raised a 



elaborate the sap quite as fast as re- leaf from each half 



qnired,and are not liable to exhaust the Mr. Knight has also recorded in the 



cutting by super-exhalation of moisture. Horticultural Transactions of 1822, 



Cuttings taken from the upper branch- that leaves of the peppermint {Mentha 



es of a plant, flower and bear fruit the piperita), without any portion of the 



earliest, but those taken from near the stem upon which they had grown, lived 



soil are said to root most freely. Cut- for more than twelve months, increased 



tings which reluctantly emit roots may in size, nearly assumed the character 



be aided by ringing. The ring should ' of evergreen trees, and emitted a mass 



be cut round the branch a few weeks of roots. That leaves may be made 



before the cutting has to he removed ; almost universally to emit roots there 



the bark should be completely removed appears little reason to doubt ; for the 



down to the wood, and the section di- same great physiologist had long before 



viding the cutting from the parent be proved that the roots of trees are gene- 

 made between the ring and the parent rated from vessels passing from the 



stem, as soon as a callus appears round leaves through the bark ; and that they 



the upper edge of the ring. 



never in any instance spring from the 



The soil is an important considera- alburnum. But the question arises, 

 tion. The cuttings of orange trees and will they produce buds? and at pre- 



others which strike with difficulty if in 

 serted in the middle of the earth of a 

 pot, do so readily if placed in contact 

 with its side. The same effect is pro- 

 duced by the end of the cutting touch- 

 ing an under drainage of gravel or 

 broken pots. Why is this? My obser- 



sent the answer derived from practice 

 is in the negative; orange leaves, rose 

 leaves, leaves of Stat ice arborea, have 

 been made to root abundantly; but 

 like blind cabbage plants, they obsti- 

 nately refused to produce buds. 



Dr. Lindlev thinks that a more abund- 



vations justify me in concluding that it ant supply of richer food, and exposure 

 is because in these situations, the side to a greater intensity of light, would 

 and the open drainage of the pot, the have removed this deficiency; and I 

 atmospheric air gains a salutary access, [see every reason for concurring with so 

 A light porous soil, or even sand, which j excellent an authority ; for buds seem 

 admits air the most readily, is the best : to spring from the central vessels of 

 for cuttings; and so is a shallow pan plants, and these vessels are never ab- 

 rather than a (lower pot, and apparently sent from a leaf If an abundant sup- 

 for the same reason. I have no doubt ply of food were given to a well-rooted 

 that numerous perforations in the bot- leaf, and it were cut down close to the 

 torn of the cutting pan would be found callus, from whence the roots are emit- 

 advantageous for" cuttings which root ted, I think buds would be produced, 



slowly. 



for the very roots themselves have the 



Some plants may be successfully same power 

 propagated by means of the leaves, and In general, the young wood strikes 

 among those whose numbers are thus most readily. Those of the Semecarpus 

 most commonly increased, are the Cac- mahogani, Swietenia mahogani, Eu- 

 ti, Gcsnerx, Gloxinia, and other fleshy phorbia litchi, and others, must have 

 leaved plants. Lately the suggestion the wood quite soft, and must be in- 

 has been revived, — a suggestion first serted in the soil under bell-glasses the 

 made by Agricola at the commence- moment they are cut. On the contrary, 

 ment of the last century. He states cuttings of milky, gummy or resinous 

 that M. Mandcrola had raised a lemon- plants, such as Araucaria, Euphorbia, 

 tree in this mode ; and thence con- and Vahea gummifera, require to be 

 eludes, rather too rashly, that all exotic buried in damp sand for twenty-four 

 leaves may at any time be converted hours, with the wound exposed, and 

 into trees. Since that was written, in then to be planted, after having the 

 1721, it is certain that plants have been exuded matter washed off with a sponge, 

 raised from leaves that previously had , Herbaceous plants having a partial de- 



