6o 



THE NURSERY-BOOK. 



such spireas as S. era tcegi folia, S. rotundifolia var. alba and S. 

 Cantonensis (S. Reevesii of the trade) var. robust a. 



These hardened cuttings, about two 

 inches long, are often made in the winter 

 from forced plants. This is particularly 

 the case with roses (which see in Chapter 

 VI). Cuttings taken in February, in the 

 north, will be ready to transfer to borders 

 or nursery beds when spring opens.. Stout, 

 well-rooted stock-plants are used from 

 which to obtain these cuttings, and they 

 are cut back when taken to the house in 

 the fall in order 

 to induce a good 

 growth. Many 

 hardy shrubs 

 can be easily 

 propagated i n 

 this way when 

 the work is dif- 

 ficult in the 



open air, e. g., Spiraea Cantonensis 

 (S. Reevesii of the catalogues) and 

 S. Van Houttii. Stock plants of the 

 soft species, like coleus, lantanas and 

 geraniums, are obtained in like man- 

 ner. 



4. Leaf Cuttings. Many thick and 

 heavy leaves may be used as cuttings. 

 Leaf cuttings are most commonly 

 employed in the showy-leaved be- 

 gonias, in succulents, and in gloxin- 

 ias, but many plants can be propa- 

 gated by them. Even the cabbage ^ ^ Hyd * nRea cutting< 

 can be made to grow from leaf cut- 

 tings. The whole leaf may be used, as shown in Fig. 59. It 

 is simply laid upon moist sand in a frame and held down by 



Fig. 56. Rose cutting. 



