66 PRACTICAL PLANT PROPAGATION 



in appearance. No roots are sent out from the stem, but one of the 

 buds in the axil of a lower leaf enlarges and sends out roots. The 

 bud continues to grow and becomes the new plant; the cutting soon 

 withers away, and the new plant is independent. Cyperus alterni- 

 folius, the Umbrella Plant, is most easily propagated by cutting the 

 stem off an inch below the head of leaves which are shortened and 

 tied together in a bunch. The cutting is then inserted in the sand 

 below the point where the leaves arise from the stem. Young shoots 

 start from the eyes but the stem does not root. The rooting of 

 monocotyledonous plants is, therefore, analogous to the germina- 

 tion of seeds. The germ of a seed has the ability to produce leaves 

 and roots; so has each eye in this large group of plants. 



POTTING CUTTINGS 



Most plants should be potted or transplanted before the roots 

 get a half-inch long, using small pots or flats and friable, not too 

 rich soil. Allowing the cutting to remain in the propagating bench 

 will be detrimental, because after it has used up its own stored food, 

 it can get none from the sand. Cuttings which are not well rooted 

 when potted may be set at the side of the pot instead of in the center. 

 Here thereby they receive better aeration through the pores of the 

 pot. Certain plants, Clematis for example, have a tendency to 

 produce a great deal of callus but roots may be slow in appearing. 

 By paring off some of the excess callus, you may induce the growth 

 of roots. 



THE SAND AND WATER METHOD OF ROOTING CUTTINGS 



By the sand and water method many a tree may be rooted which 

 it is difficult to increase in other ways. It makes use of a pan, or 

 a pot with the hole closed, filled with sand. Half-ripened wood is 

 used for the cuttings and placed in the pot. The sand is kept in 

 such a wet condition that the water is almost visible on its surface. 

 The pan or pot can be placed in the sun after the first few days, the 

 excessive moisture prevents wilting, and rooting soon takes place. 

 Gordonia pubescens is rooted by this method. 



PROPAGATING CASE 



Every conservatory and general flower growing establishment 

 should have a frame in the greenhouse, in which the atmosphere 

 can be confined and good bottom heat maintained. This sort of 

 case is often known as a Wardian case but others mean by Wardian 

 case a box for growing rather than propagating plants. 



