30 PANSY, VIOLA AND VIOLET 



this description. Such cuttings rarely turn out a 

 success. 



The best method of "taking" cuttings is to remove 

 them with a sharp knife, and not to pull them off. 

 Those with rootlets may be plucked off, but care must 

 be exercised not to break them in so doing. 



The next question to present itself is that of the 

 preparation of the cuttings. It is obvious that, if all the 

 leaves growing on the basal shoot from which we are to 

 make our cutting are allowed to remain thereon, they 

 would, after insertion in the cutting bed, gradually decay, 

 and cause the cutting to suffer or damp off in consequence. 

 For this reason, therefore, all the lower leaves and bracts 

 should be carefully removed. 



The length of the cutting has now to be determined. 

 If it be too long, it will have to be inserted rather 

 deeply into the compost, thus making it more difficult to 

 lift in the ensuing Spring, when a lanky plant in all 

 probability will result. And if too short, it will be 

 impossible, of course, to fix it firmly in the compost. 

 Striking the happy medium, therefore, the cutting when 

 finally prepared should measure about i\ to 3 inches. 

 It should always be cut through immediately below a 

 joint, with a sharp knife. The accompanying illustrations 

 represent an ideal cutting, and the proper place to cut it 

 through. Of course, if this can be done when taking 

 the cutting from the plant, so much time is saved, but 

 it is not always an easy matter to judge. 



In the case of cuttings with rootlets, when removing 

 them from the plant, they should be detached just below 

 the young roots. The bottom leaves, if any, should be 

 trimmed off as above suggested. 



If a quantity of cuttings are being taken, it is a good 

 plan to place each cutting, after being trimmed, into a 

 vessel of water. This keeps it fresh and prevents 

 withering. 



