PROPAGATION OF PLANTS BY CUTTINGS. 121 



tion of plants by cuttings is, that the plant from which 

 the cutting or slip is taken must be in vigorous health. 

 If weak or tainted by insects or disease, failure is almost 

 certain to be the result. If, for example, we wish to root 

 cuttings of greenhouse or bedding plants, such as Bou- 

 vardias, Chrysanthemums, Fuchsias, Geraniums, Helio- 

 tropes, Salvias, Verbenas, etc., one of the best guides to 

 the proper condition is, when the cutting breaks or snaps 



Fig. 29. PROPER AND IMPROPEK CONDITIONS OF CUTTING. 



clean off instead of bending or " kneeing." If it snaps off 

 so as to break, then it is in condition to root freely; if it 

 bends, it is too old, and though it will root, it will root 

 much slower, and make a weaker plant than the slip that 

 snaps off on being bent. With very few exceptions, and 



