PROPAGATION OF PLANTS. 



219 



the desired characteristics of these plants per- 

 manent that is, by the selection and reproduc- 

 tion of the seedling". So in these cases the fac- 

 tor of sexual reproduction must be eliminated, 

 and thus the tendency of the plant to vary less- 



FIG. 56. LEAF CUTTING WHOLE LEAF. 



ened, if one would perpetuate the variety. This 

 is done by the propagation of plants from buds, 

 or asexual reproduction. 



^.PROPAGATION FROM BUDS. 



Here, again, nature gives us examples among 

 the uncultivated plants. The wild strawberry 

 multiplies asexually by throwing out runners 

 which form roots and become new plants. The 

 raspberry bends its flexible branches until their 

 tips touch the moist earth ; soon they are cov- 

 ered by leaf-mould or soil, and new plants are 

 formed by sending out roots from these buried 

 tips. 



