PKOPAGATIOX 



185 



good examples. These cuttings are placed in two groups : 

 green or softwood cuttings, made mostly from herbaceous plants 

 and intended to be rooted at once ; and hardwood cuttings, 

 made from woody plants late in autumn. The latter are kept 

 in a dormant condition through the 

 winter and are rooted the following 

 spring. This latter form of cutting 

 is the one commonly employed in 

 multiplying the woody plants, but 

 many of these may also be propa- 

 gated by softwood cuttings, espe- 

 cially roses, currants, golden bell, 

 willow, and poplar. For this pur- 

 pose the cuttings should be taken 

 while the wood is young and ten- 

 der. In making any kind of cut- 

 ting it is desirable that the cuts be 

 made just below the nodes, since 

 the new roots usually spring from 

 these parts. Among the plants com- 

 monly grown from softwood cut- 

 tings are carnations, geraniums, 

 begonias, chrysanthemums, and 

 those specimens known as " foliage 

 plants." When set, about one third 

 of each cutting should project above 

 the soil. To prevent loss of mois- 

 ture while they are making roots, it 

 is customary to remove part or all 

 the leaves before setting and to protect them from the drying 

 effects of the air by sheltering with glass or thin cloth. Plenty 

 of warmth and moisture is necessary to make most cuttings 

 root rapidly, but they should not be kept so close as to pre- 

 vent ventilation. The hardier plants, however, will root if the 



FIG. 135. A geranium cutting 

 which has struck root 



From Bergen and Cakhvell's 

 " Practical Botany " 



