CHAPTER V 



HOW THE HORTICULTURIST PROPAGATES PLANTS 

 BY MEANS OF ROOTS AND STEMS 



61. CUTTINGS IN GENERAL. A bit of a plant stucJc 

 into the ground stands a chance of growing; and this hit 

 is a cutting. (Compare 51.) Plants have preferences, 

 however, as to the kind of a bit which shall be used, 

 but there is no way of telling what this preference is 

 except by trying. In some instances this preference has 

 not been discovered, and we say that the plant cannot 

 be propagated by cuttings. 



62. Most plants prefer that the cutting be made of 

 the soft or growing parts (called "wood" by gardeners), 

 of which the "slips" of geranium and coleus are examples. 

 Others grow equally well from cuttings of the hard or 

 mature parts or wood, as currant and grape ; and in 

 some instances this mature wood may be of roots, as in 

 the blackberry. Pupils should make cuttings now and 

 then. If they can do nothing more, they can make cut- 

 tings of potato, as the farmer does ; and they can plant 

 them in a box in the window. 



63. THE SOFTWOOD CUTTING. The softwood cutting 

 is made from tissue which is still growing, or at least 

 from that which is not dormant. It comprises one or 

 two joints, with a leaf attached. Figs. 32, 33, 34. It 

 must not be allowed to wilt. Therefore, it must be 

 protected from direct sunlight and dry air until it is 

 well established; and if it has many leaves, some of them 

 should be removed, or at least cut in two, in order to 

 reduce the evaporating surface. The soil should be uui- 



(24) 



