294 



GREENHOUSE MANAGEMENT. 



t 



Whil e a soft, wate ry growth is not desirable, cut- 

 tings cannot, as a rule, be induced to root readily after 

 they become woody, and th p usual test is to reject al l 

 cuttings that when bent do not snap off, rather than 

 crush down without breaking, the latter behavior ind i- 

 cating that 'the tibro- vascular bu ndles (woody fibers'), 

 haj^formed (Fig. 96). Cuttings made from stems in 

 that cohdtrion root slowly and sparingly, and the plants 

 will be weaker than when made from those in the 

 proper condition. For a few plants like the rose, a 

 firmer condition of the wood is desirable. 

 tiSof t cuttings should have a bud at the top, and from 

 one to three inches of stem. Unless a cutting can be 

 made three inches long and have its base in proper con- 

 dition, it will be better to shorten it to one inch, and, if 

 necessary, the length may be even 

 less, its stem being principally of 

 value to gdjffi j, secure hold in the 

 cutting bed! Lputtings of this kind 

 should havlrat least one leaf, and 

 sometimes from two to four are 

 leftUrThose at the lower part of 

 the stem should be removed, and 

 the others shortened y^J(Fig. 97). 

 In this way the amount of evapo- 

 ration will be checked and the cuttings can be placed 

 nearer together. Cuttings should be so handled that 

 they will not wilt. It is well to use a sharp knife, and 

 to cut off the stem at nearly right angles. Neither, 

 -however, is really necessary, and in many cases the cut- 

 tings can be broken off without the use of a knife. If in 

 the proper condition, most cuttings will root readily from 

 any part of the stem, but with others that root with diffi- 

 culty, and especially if they have become too hard, it will 

 be well to have a bud near the base of the cuttings, as 

 roots are most readily sent out from near the nodesr~1 



PIG. 97. SOFT CUTTING 

 OF COLEUS. 



