Propagation by Cuttings. 191 



in nature, and in which the skill and care of the cultiva- 

 tor are, as a rule, essential to its accomplishment, viz. : 



b ~ Propagation by sections of the plant. 



The various methods of propagation in this division 

 are alike in the fact that a detached part of the parent 

 plant, containing living protoplasm, is placed for a time 

 under specially favorable conditions, in virtue of which 

 the part is enabled not only to live, but to perform its 

 functions and reproduce the needed organs; or if a cioii 

 (386), to unite by growth to the part with which it is 

 placed in contact. 



357. In propagation by sections of the plant we must, 

 of necessity, wound the plant tissues in securing the 

 parts for propagation. Since it is always desirable that 

 the wound should heal promptly (73), it is important that 

 the cutting tools used should have sharp and xmooth edges. 



As here considered, propagation by sections of the 

 plant includes two methods, differing materially in their 

 requirements and in the manner of development of the 

 plants, viz. , propagation by cuttings and by grafting. 



a Propagation by Cuttings. 



358. A Cutting is a detached member of a plant, in- 

 tended to be placed in the soil or some other medium for 

 propagation. It may be in an active or a dormant state 

 (13), and may or may not contain a growing point (67). 

 Before the cutting can become a plant, it must develop 

 the essential part or parts of the plant that it lacks; i. e., 

 the stem and the leaves, or the root, or all these mem- 

 bers. Cuttings of the stem are usually planted with 



