SOFT-WOODED OR BEDDING PLANTS. 241 



layer or cutting is detached. The cutting or "layer" is 

 in condition to be cut off in five or six days from the time 

 it has been tongued, and will be found not only to be 

 healed up, and in such a condition that it will quickly emit 

 roots, but the whole cutting presents a well-ripened, 

 firm condition, not easily described, but readily detected 

 by the practical propagator. When detached, they should 

 be treated in all respects as ordinary cuttings, duly 

 watered, and shaded for a few days until they strike out 

 roots, when they are potted off in small pots in the usual 

 manner. During the unprecedently wet summer that we 

 had in 1867, we found that many of the plants of the va- 

 riegated Pelargoniums and variegated Rose Geranium 

 " Lady Plymouth," operated on in this manner, produced 

 roots half an inch in length, as they hung in the air ; but 

 this was of no special advantage, as we found that those 

 that merely healed up and callused made just as fine plants 

 as those that had formed roots before being cut off. 



Plants thus formed make much finer plants than regular 

 layers, as they are to all intents and purpose cuttings, and 

 consequently, unlike layers, are not long dependent on the 

 parent plant for support, being indebted little or nothing 

 to the old plant during their development. By this sys- 

 tem of propagation we have had the satisfaction this sea- 

 son of doubling our stock of many rare and valuable plants, 

 which it would have been perfectly impracticable to do in 

 the usual manner during the hot months. 



