THE PARLOR GARDENER. 69 



you desire to propagate by this means is rare, 

 and you possess but one leaf, for which you are 

 indebted to the kindness of an amateur, split 

 this leaf down through the principal rib ; split 

 afterwards the two halves in four or five pieces, 

 through the side ribs ; and these fragments, 

 treated as slips, will not fail to take root. But, 

 as this plant is of very loose tissue, and evap- 

 oration might cause the slips to perish in a few 

 days, even in your cold greenhouse, you will act 

 prudently if, besides the shelter which it affords, 

 you cover them separately, each with a small glass 

 turned upside down. 



Slips of Begonia. 



Another genus of plants, not less agreeable, the 

 genus Begonia, is propagated by slips of leaves 

 in a manner somewhat different. The stems of 

 the leaves of begonias are of a cylindrical form ; 

 those of the begonia manicata, or cuffed begonia, 

 are ornamented with an elegant fringe for about 

 one half of their length. If you stick one of 

 these leaves in your portable greenhouse, do not 

 be frightened, if, after the lapse of some days, the 



