JULY] 



THE GREEN-HOUSE. 



477 



in length, and of a stout and robust growth. The leaves should be 

 stripped off more than half way up, and the cuttings planted about 

 two-thirds of their length into pots, garden-pans, or beds of earth, 

 adopting for each kind its favorite soil ; then give shade and water, 

 as directed on former occasions. 



The ericas, anthyllises, and other kinds that do not root freely in 

 this way, should have bell-glasses placed over them, which will great- 

 ly facilitate their rooting. 



Continue to propagate the various kinds of succulent plants be- 

 longing to this department, as directed on page 418. 



PROPAGATING BY MERE LEAVES. 



Several plants may be propagated from mere leaves. The wax 

 plant, hoya, is a common instance. Gesnera, clianthus punicens, 

 gloxinia speciosa, are also well known, but it is probable that most 

 leaves, when separated from their parent, are incapable of doing so 

 for reasons which we are not yet able to explain. The scales of a 

 bulb will, with some certainty, produce new plants under favorable 

 circumstances, viz : a strong bottom heat, moderate moisture, and a 

 rich, stimulating soil. 



Leaves intended for cuttings, should be taken from about the mid- 

 dle of a branch. Gloxinia, bryophillum, lilies, &c., may be experi- 



Fig. 54. 



mented upon by the amateur. If we wish to get on very quickly, 

 the midrib on the lower face of the leaf may be broken in several 

 places, without injuring the limb, and so lightly that the broken 

 places can scarcely be distinguished; the lower face of the leaf is 

 then placed on the earth of a pot. Soon at each fracture a little cal- 

 lus develops itself, which gives rise to roots as seen above at c. 



