214 Principles of Plant Culture. 



juneberry, etc., often form both buds and rootlets by 

 spring, so that they may be planted directly in the 

 open ground. Those of more tender species, as the 

 bouvardia, geranium, etc., will not start to the same 

 degree, unless placed in the propagating bed toward 

 spring and given bottom heat. 



Root cuttings should be planted shallow, usually not 

 more than one-half to three-fourths inch deep, in order 

 that the developing bud may soon reach the light; oth- 

 erwise, as in too-deeply planted seeds, the reserve food 

 may be exhausted before the shoot reaches the surface. 

 When planted in the open ground (372), the soil should 

 be made very fine and carefully pressed about the cut- 

 tings; if the weather is warm and dry, shading (Fig. 

 64) and watering will be necessary. 



b Propagation ~by cuttings from active plants (green 

 cuttings, slips). 



377. Nearly AH Plants may be Propagated from 

 Green Cuttings. A succulent cutting of nasturtium* 

 with its leaves intact, and with its proximal end im- 

 mersed in fresh we]l- or spring-water, will for a time 

 absorb sufficient of the liquid to make good the less 

 from transpiration (74). So long as the water remains 

 fresh and the tissues of the stem are unobstructed, 

 the water thus absorbed will answer the same purpose 

 to this cutting as if it had been absorbed by the roots. 

 Food formation (58) will continue, and the growth 

 current (79) will transport the prepared food from the 

 leaves into the stem and in the direction of the roots. 

 No roots being present, however, the growing points of 



* Tropceolum. 



