38 NATURE TEACHING 



two to three inches. Compress the soil firmly around 

 the cuttings, for if the soil remains loose the cutting will 

 suffer from lack of moisture. The work of planting 

 cuttings is much facilitated by using a piece of wood 

 about six inches long and about the thickness of one's 

 little finger for making the hole in the soil to receive the 

 cutting, and for compressing the soil around its base. 

 Water and tend the boxes, as in the case of seeds. 



Plant a number of cuttings so as to provide material 

 for examination. At short intervals remove one or 

 more cuttings from the soil, and note carefully the 

 changes which have taken place ; these examinations 

 should continue until the relationship of the resulting 

 new plant to the cutting is clearly established. Sketches 

 or diagrams should accompany all the notes. 



Place cuttings of watercress and coleus in bottles of 

 water. After a time, roots will develop, and their growth 

 and character may be observed. It is convenient to use 

 a clear bottle wrapped round with paper or cloth to 

 exclude the light. 



Branches of shrubs will frequently take root if they 

 are fastened down on moist soil. By means of suitable 

 pegs, secure two or three branches of a rose, or other 

 tree, firmly upon the ground, covering them with a little 

 soil where they touch the ground ; water and tend care- 

 fully. The branch will after a time be found to have 

 rooted, and may then be severed from the parent tree and 

 planted in another spot. Rooting may be encouraged 

 in this operation by removing a narrow ring of bark at 

 the place where the branch touches the ground. 



When valuable trees are to be propagated, and it is 



