IMPORTANT FLORISTS' PLANTS 161 



LATANIA (Fan Palm) 



Latania seed is cheap, easy to procure and germinates quickly, but 

 the plants take up more room than is profitable. The seeds may be 

 sown like those of Kentias. The roots are easily broken, so pot them 

 carefully. 



RHAPIS 



Rhapis flabelliformis is propagated principally by division of the 

 plants. 



SABAL (Palmetto) 



The seeds of the Palmetto are very hard and will not germinate 

 quickly unless kept moist at all times. They also require a high tem- 

 perature for germination. 



POINSETTIAS 



The Poinsettia produces an abundance of milky juice; plants with 

 this characteristic are more difficult to root than some others. Two 

 sorts of cuttings may be made of Poinsettias, hardwood and softwood. 



In making the hard or dormant wood cuttings place the plants, after 

 flowering, under the bench of a warm house and gradually withhold 

 water so as to allow them to ripen. During March cut the canes int< 

 four-inch lengths, and after the milk has stopped flowing, wash the 

 cuttings in warm water and dip them in powdered charcoal Place 

 in a moderately dry propagating bench at a temperature of 65 degrees. 

 As soon as roots have started, pot the cuttings in thumb pots. 



For making softwood cuttings start the plants in April. Shake 

 the soil from the roots of the old plants and pot in smaller pots. The 

 storage roots will soon cause the growth of good cuttings, which, when 

 several inches long are taken with a heel. Drop the cuttings as soon 

 as made in a pail of cold water and leave them there for a half hour. 

 The bleeding will stop and the cuttings will remain fresh and will not 

 wilt. They may be rooted in the sand bench or potted immediately 

 and placed in a close propagating case. Cuttings may be taken all 

 Spring and Summer; the earlier cuttings will give the taller plants. 



ROSES 



Seed. The various botanical species of Roses may be propagated 

 by seed because they breed true. Horticultural varieties must be 

 propagated by some other method. 



Collect the seeds when ripe and pound them from the fruits; allow 

 the mass to ferment; then wash it and separate out the seeds. They 

 are sown immediately or else stratified. Cover the seed with sand 

 instead of soil. Rosa blanda, R. canina, R. japonica, R. Carolina, R. 

 cinnamomea, R. hispida, R. Hugonis, R. humilis, R. lucida, R. lutea, 

 R. multiflora, R. nitida, R. pisocarpa, R. rubiginosa, R. rubrifolia, R. 

 rugosa, R. setigera, R. spinosissima and R. Wichuraiana especially are 

 grown from seed. 



Hard wood cuttings. Most Briars, Climbers and Polyanthas may 

 be propagated by hard wood cuttings. The canes should be cut into 

 5 inch to 6 inch lengths and buried in sand during Winter and set out 

 in Spring. (See page 73.) 



