The Science of Plant Growing 



Aspleniums (&g. 46), Bryophyllwn calycinum (tig. 46), Tolmicea Menziesii, 

 Cardamine pratensis, and its double variety naturally produce buds on 

 the margins, base, or upper surface of their leaves, which grow into 

 plants under conditions favourable to the production of roots. The 

 leaves of Begonia Rex and its varieties may be induced to form buds 

 artificially by cutting through the thick ribs, laying the leaves on sand, 

 pegging or fastening them in position in a moist, warm frame, till small 



tubers bearing a bud are 

 formed. On the other 

 hand, those leaves may be 

 cut into strips, each with 

 a thick rib, and inserted as 

 cuttings in sand. Leaves 

 of Gloxinias, Streptocarpus, 

 and allied plants may be 

 dealt with in the same way. 

 The fleshy leaves of Coty- 

 ledon (Echeveria), Semper- 

 vivum tabulceforme, and 

 the bulb scales of many 

 Lilies and Hyacinths may 

 be pulled off in their en- 

 tirety and laid on sand, kept 

 moist, or lightly dibbled 

 into the sand, and they 

 will form small or young 

 plants. Lastreas, Scolo- 

 pendriums, and other ferns 

 often form a small plant at 

 the base of the leaf stalk, 

 or may be induced to do 

 so by inserting the thick 

 base in sand and keeping 

 it moist. Reserve materials 

 are present in all these 



cases, together with a plentiful supply of water within the tissues, and 

 this serves to keep the leaves alive and carry the food materials to the 

 point where a tuberous callus is formed, from which the roots are emitted. 

 The leaves of the Cotyledons have a cuticle as well as a layer of wax, 

 which prevents the escape of their sap, and they must not be kept wet 

 by too frequent watering, or they will damp off. It is possible that most 

 leaves could be rooted in this way if they could be kept alive without 

 damping till roots are formed. 



All the above are methods of vegetative or asexual reproduction, and 

 their object is to multiply the plant and keep varieties true to character 

 and name. They furnish a means of increase where no seeds or spores 



Fig. 46. Formation of Buds on Fronds and Foliage Leaves 



1, 2, on the pinnules of A&plenium bulbiferum; 3, on the margins 

 of the lobes of the leaves of Bi-yophyllum calycimnn. 



