60 The Flower Garden [Chapter 



ously. To this end a warm, even temperature is 

 necessary, sudden chills being fatal. 



Gloxinias may be started in the sand-box by laying 

 a leaf flat on the sand, in partial shade, covering the 

 stem end with the sand. A callus will soon form, 

 followed presently by a bulb. This may be as large 

 as a hazel-nut before top growth begins. When tiny 

 leaves appear the plant may be lifted and potted and 

 grown until it blooms. It is not necessary to rest 

 Gloxinias either from seeds or cuttings before they 

 have bloomed. Begonias and Achimenes are rooted 

 in the same way. Umbrella-plants are started by 

 placing face down in a dish of water in the sun. 

 Rubber and any other hard-wooded plants may be 

 rooted by making an incision in the under side of 

 a branch near a leaf, at a point where the wood has 

 begun to harden, and wrapping the wound in a quan- 

 tity of sphagnum moss, kept constantly wet. A 

 thread should be tied to the branch on the side farthest 

 from the main stalk and attached to a limb above 

 to hold the cut slightly open that it may quickly be- 

 come calloused. After a time roots will make their 

 appearance through the moss, when the branch may 

 be removed and potted. A method sometimes em- 

 ployed, when it is desired to save the crown of a 

 plant which has a leggy or unshapely undergrowth, 

 is to partly sever the stem at the point at which it 

 is desired to root the plant, cutting out a wedge-shaped 

 piece and packing with sphagnum moss. Or a small 



