THE PLANT 



57 



says : " For most plants the proper age or maturity of 

 wood for the making of cuttings may be determined by 

 giving the twig a quick bend; if it 

 snaps and hangs by the bark, it is 

 in proper condition. If it bends 

 without breaking, it is too young 

 and soft or too old. If it splinters, 

 it is too old and woody." Some 

 plants, as the geranium, succeed 

 better if the cuttings from which 

 they are grown are taken from soft, 

 FIG. 43. young parts of the plant ; others, 

 GRAPE CUTTING for example, the grape or rose, do 

 Showing depth to which cutting better when the cutting is made 



should be planted r 



from more mature wood. 



Cuttings may vary in size, 

 and may include one or more 

 buds. After a hardy, vigorous 

 cutting is made, insert it about 

 one half or one third of its 

 length in soil. A soil free from 

 organic matter is much the best, 

 since in such soil cuttings are 

 much less liable to disease. A 

 fine, clean sand is commonly 

 used by professional gardeners. 

 When cuttings have rooted 

 well, this may require a 

 month or more, they may be transplanted to larger pots. 



Sometimes, instead of cutting off a piece and rooting 

 that, portions of branches are made to root before they 



CARNAT.ON CUTT.NG 



