Propagation and Care of Plants 71 



this reason cuttings should be started in coarse, damp 



sand (Fig. 49). No other nourishment than air and 



moisture is necessary for getting the roots started, and 



as sand admits air more freely than other soil does, it 



is better to use either that or a very sandy loam. Slips The effect 



are often prevented from forming roots by being kept water " 



too wet. Even sand, if water-soaked, will not admit 



air ; and there must be proper drainage or the cuttings 



will rot. (Exp. 5.) 



About three fourths of the length of a cutting should The 

 be placed below the surface. The purpose in planting 

 so deeply is to prevent drying out. A light-colored deeply 

 cloth screen laid loosely over a bed of slips helps to keep 

 the tops moist. A glass jar is sometimes set over the 

 plant to prevent loss of moisture. 



Some plants, such as the geranium and the Wandering 

 Jew, grow so easily from cuttings that little care is neces- 

 sary. But with most plants roots cannot be so easily 

 induced to start, and if 

 we would succeed well 

 we should follow the 

 best methods. 



Cuttings are most ^^ When to 



easily removed from the 

 sand bed as soon as they 

 have callused over at the 

 cut, but before roots 

 have actually appeared. 

 (After the cut has healed 

 by being callused over, 



FIG. 48. A softwood cutting. (Slip of 



roots are quite certain coieus.) 



