Some Lessons on Propagation. 31 



Exercises of this kind must be copied neatly and laid 

 away for future use as supplementary reading. Material of 

 this character is far superior to a great deal which we find 

 in so-called supplementary readers ; it is about things the 

 pupil has seen. 



C. SOME LESSONS ON PROPAGATION. 



I. Here is a branch cut from an ivy-plant. Let us exam- 

 ine it closely. Do you see any roots upon it ? Let us place 

 the lower end of the stem into a bottle of water. We will 

 set it in the north window and see it put forth roots. Here 

 is a piece of nasturtium, and also a piece of oleander. We 

 will also put them into bottles of water and see their roots 

 form. 



Observe them each day, and by and by the tender, white, 

 threadlike roots will be seen to appear. The nasturtium 

 will probably be the first to throw out roots, then the ivy, 

 and last the oleander. When the roots appear, examine 

 under a magnifying glass and discover the little root-hairs 

 by which the plant absorbs moisture and nutriment from 

 the soil. 



Before the roots appear examine from time to time to 

 see the callus or scar where the roots first appear. This 

 callus comes at the end of the slip where it was cut off, 

 and when it comes you may be very sure that roots will 

 speedily follow. When the roots have made their appear- 

 ance, and when you have given them all the study you can, 

 put the new plants in good earth and set in a sunny window. 

 The foregoing illustrates one important way of propagating 

 plants. 



II. Here is a piece of geranium stem. Let us plant it 

 in the soil. First we will cut off the large leaves and we 

 will cut the stem off smooth with a sharp knife. Look at it 

 closely and see how fresh and green the stem looks where I 

 have cut it. 



