70 THE PARLOR GARDENER. 



entire leaf fades and then draws up as if it had 

 been shrivelled by a violent sun- stroke ; the 

 vegetable life has withdrawn into the stem ; the 

 operation has not been necessarily unsuccessful. 

 "When the leaf is dry, take the stem out of the 

 earth ; it will not yet have roots, properly speak- 

 ing, but all around its lower edge you will dis- 

 tinguish little swellings composing a sort of roll, 

 tolerably prominent t these are the rudiments of 

 the roots ready to come out. This leaf-stem, 

 although hollow within, is thick and fleshy. 

 Split it into five or six slips, down its length ; 

 and each of these slips, provided it has at its 

 base a portion of that little roll from which the 

 roots are to come out, will become, in a short 

 time, a fine plant of begonia manicata. Just as 

 many pieces as you have been able to split that 

 stem into, just so many thriving slips will you 

 have ; all will take root. 



An indefinite variety of plants, as well those 

 generally found only in warmed greenhouses as 

 those which are seen in others, can be thus prop- 

 agated. It will be for you an inexhaustible source 

 of recreation, and at the same time a precious 



