COTTAGE 



CYATHEA 



423 



628. Root-cutting of blackberry (X / 



from 1-2 inches long, the larger roots being selected, 

 although the small ones will grow. They are planted 

 in pans or flats, in soil composed of equal parts sand 

 and well rotted leaf-mold. Ordinarily they are set hori- 

 zontally. If planted vertically, in cuttings from the 

 true root the end which was nearest the crown should 

 be uppermost; but if made from the rootstock, that end 

 should be uppermost which grew farthest from the 

 crown. In either case they should be covered, as 



seeds are covered, 

 and the whole 

 made firm. Root- 

 cuttings of hardy 

 plants should be 

 kept cool at first 

 and brought into 

 heat only when 

 ready to grow. They 

 may be kept in a pit or cool cellar. Tender plants 

 require the same or a little higher temperature than 

 that in which they thrive. 



In sweet potato, the tuber is cut lengthwise and laid, 

 with the cut side down, on moist sand or moss, the 

 edges being slightly covered. Buds develop on these 

 edges and are removed when of proper size and treated 

 as cuttings of growing wood, or allowed to remain until 

 rooted. In dracaena (see Fig. 546, page 370) and this 

 applies to stem- as well as root-cuttings the buds are 

 rust taken off until rooted ; the original cutting remains 

 in the sand and sometimes produces a second or even a 

 third crop. The tuberous rootstock of Arum macula- 

 turn, and plants of like nature, can be cut into pieces, 

 remembering that the bud-producing portion of arum is 

 the top, and each part will grow successfully. Exercise 

 care in watering and maintain a good temperature. 



Boot-cuttings for planting in the open ground are 

 made from 4 to 6 inches long, and are planted firmly in 

 V-shaped trenches or furrows in spring, being covered 

 2 inches or more deep. Roots as large as one's little 

 finger are chosen, and good results are obtained with 

 plants of vigorous growth. In plants like lily-of-the- 

 valley, common lilac, calycanthus, Scotch and moss 

 roses, etc., unless short of stock, it is better to encour- 

 age the natural growth of the suckers and propagate by 

 division, but these can be multiplied as above described. 

 Variegation, curiously enough, is not always repro- 

 duced by means of root-cuttings. 



(5) Leaf-cuttings. Many leaves are capable of pro- 

 ducing roots. Some have the further power of develop- 

 ing buds after rooting, and of 

 these last a few furnish an eco- 

 nomical means of bud-propaga- 

 tion, particularly where the stem 

 growth is insufficient. In coty- 

 ledon (echeveria) the whole 

 leaf is used, the smaller ones 

 from the flower - stalk being 

 often the best. Choose those 

 which are fully matured, and, if 

 large and succulent, expose 

 them for a few days on the sur- 

 face of dry sand, but do not let 

 them shrivel. The treatment, 

 othewise, is as given above for 

 cuttings of growing wood. In 

 gloxinia and other Gesneracese, 

 the whole leaf (Fig. 629), half a 

 leaf, or even a lesser portion, 

 is used. When enough clear 

 petiole is obtainable, no further 

 preparation is needed. When a 

 part only of the leaf is planted, 

 some of the blade must be cut 

 away. As a rule, no bud is de- 

 veloped the first season : a tuber 

 is formed, which will grow in 

 due time. 



Begonia Rex is increased by leaves in various ways. 

 The whole leaf may be planted as a cutting, keeping 

 the petiole entire or cutting it off where it unites with 

 the blade ; or the whole leaf can be pinned or weighted 

 to the surface of moist sand (Fig. 203, page 142), and, 

 if the principal veins are severed at intervals of an 



629. Leaf-cutting of 

 gloxinia. 



inch, a plantlet will appear at every cut. The best way 

 is to divide the leaf into somewhat triangular pieces 

 (see Fig. 204, page 142), each part having a strong vein 

 near the center. Plant in sand, in good temperature, 

 and treat precisely as if they were cuttings of growing 

 wood. Roots and buds will soon grow, and a good plant 

 will result within a reasonable time. Pot off when roots 

 are % in. long. 



The thickened scales of bulbs, like lilies, can be used 

 for propagation. Remove the scales intact and plant 

 upright, like seeds, in soil made of equal parts of sand 

 and rotted leaf -mold (Fig. 630) : September and October 

 are the usual months for this work. If 

 they are kept in a cool greenhouse, the 

 young bulblets will appear in the course of 

 the winter, but top growth will come later, 

 in summer. This is a slow, laborious pro- 

 cess, and is seldom practiced except in 

 propagating new varieties. The granular 

 scales of achimenes and plants of like 

 nature can be used for propagating, sow- 

 ing them in a sandy soil as seeds are 

 sown ; but this method is not a good one 

 in ordinary cases. The scales of Zamia 

 horrida have been made to produce new 

 plants, and also the tunicated scales of an Lily scale 

 amaryllis. See Transactions of Horticul- producing 

 tural Society [London], 6, p. 501. bulblets. 



True variegation, that which comes from 

 lack of chlorophyll matter, is not always reproduced 

 by leaf -cuttings. The characteristic coloring in the 

 foliage of Begonia Rex is never lacking in plants ob- 

 tained by these means. 



For further details of Cuttage, consult Lindley's The- 

 ory and Practice of Horticulture, 2d ed.; Burbidge, 

 The Propagation and Improvement of Cultivated Plants ; 

 Peter Henderson's Practical Floriculture ; Bailey's 

 Nursery Book, 3d ed. R M WATSON< 



CYANOPHYLLUM. Consult Miconia. 



CYATHEA (Greek, a cup, alluding to the indusia). 

 Cyathedcece. A large genus of tree ferns found in both 

 hemispheres, with a globose indusium which ultimately 

 ruptures at the apex and becomes cup-shaped. All the 

 species in cultivation have decompound Ivs. Many 

 other species from Columbia and the West Indies 

 besides those described below are well worthy of cul- 

 tivation. L. M. UNDERWOOD. 



This genus includes some of the most beautiful of all 

 tree ferns. The species offer a great variety in size of 

 trunks. Those of temperate regions are mostly stout 

 and not spiny ; the tropical species are more slender and 

 in many cases densely armed with stout spines. All 

 species are evergreen. Their culture is simple but ex- 

 acting. They require an abundance of water at the roots 

 and the trunks should be kept constantly moist. By 

 these means only can a vigorous growth and fine heads 

 of fronds be secured. The foliage lasts longer if it has 

 been inured to the sun during summer. Like all other 

 tree ferns, Cyatheas need little pot-room. None of the 

 species produces adventitious growths along the trunk 

 or at the base and none is proliferous. The plants are, 

 therefore, usually prop, by spores, which are produced 

 abundantly and germinate freely, making attractive 

 young plants in two seasons. A bridged from Schnei- 

 der's Book of Choice Ferns. 



A. Rachides unarmed; Ivs. white beneath. 

 dealbata, Swz. Rachides with pale rusty wool when 

 young; Ivs.firm, bi-tripinnate,almost pure white beneath. 

 N. Zealand. C. Smithii, Hort., is regarded by some as 

 a horticultural variety. 



AA. Rachides unarmed; Ivs. green beneath. 



Burkei, Hook. Stalks with tubercles near the base 

 bearing large, glossy rusty scales : Ivs. bipinnate, with 

 broad pinnules. S. Africa. 



merid6nsis, Karst. Figs. 631, 632. Lvs. tripinnati- 

 fid, with oblong-lanceolate pinnae and rather narrow 

 lanceolete pinnules; segments scaly on the ribs beneath. 

 U. S. Columbia. 



