CH. v.] THE S.O*. 183 



is a shallow pan rather than a flower-pot, and appa- 

 rently for the same reason. I have no doubt that 

 numerous perforations in the bottom of the cutting 

 pan would be found advantageous for cuttings which 

 root shyly. 



Some plants may be successfully propagated by 

 means of the leaves ; and among those whose num- 

 bers are thus most commonly increased are the 

 Cacti, Gesnerge, Gloxiniae, and other fleshy-leaved 

 plants. Lately, the suggestion has been revived, 

 that the majority of plants may be thus propagated, 

 a suggestion first made by Agiicola, at the commence- 

 ment of the last century. He states that M. Mandi- 

 rola had raised a lemon tree in this mode ; and 

 thence concludes, rather too rashly, " that all exotic 

 leaves may, at any time, be converted into trees." 

 Since that was written, in 1721, it is certain, that 

 plants have been raised from leaves that previously 

 had been considered totally incapable of such exten- 

 sion. Thus Mr. Neumann has succeeded with the 

 Theophrasta latifolia; and, going a step further, he has 

 even bisected a leaf, and raised a leaf from each half. 

 Mr. Knight has also recorded, in the Horticultural 

 Transactions of 182Q, that leaves of the peppermint, 

 {Mentha piperita,) without any portion of the stem 

 upon which they had grown, lived for more than 

 twelve months, increased in size, neai'ly assumed 



