34 PLANT PROPAGATION 
to become sturdy before the approach of the dull days of 
winter. Many hardy plants—such as Roses, Currants, 
Gooseberries, and Laurels, to be planted outside on a 
sheltered border—are best handled in the autumn, so 
that a callus is formed at the base which roots and grows 
quickly as the warmth of spring encourages vitality. 
A large number of both foliage and flowering subjects 
may be induced to provide a quantity of excellent young 
growths in spring by placing the old plants in a moist 
and higher temperature ; the young growths that sprout 
from the branches, cut off with a heel of the old wood, 
with the usual treatment afforded, then strike root freely 
and quickly, whereas at a later season they would be 
much more difficult to deal with successfully. 
It is generally considered that cuttings root at the 
base by the downward flow of the elaborated sap being 
arrested at the place where severance was effected, a 
callus being formed of spongy cells, through which roots 
in due course are protruded. Most stem-cuttings succeed 
best when cut through immediately below a joint or 
node. With many plants, however, such a nicety of 
preparation is quite unnecessary, as they may be induced 
to produce roots freely if cut a sufficient length to hold 
the cutting in position when planted, provided only one 
node is retained; but in such cases it is advisable to 
insert the stem into the compost to the base of the leaves, 
when new growths will spring from the axillary buds. 
Verbenas and Fuchsias are amenable to such treatment. 
In fact, propagators for the trade, when desirous of 
increasing scarce varieties quickly, will split such cut- 
tings down the middle, leaving only one bud to each 
half, so that from a few sturdy plants to commence with 
a large number is soon obtained. There are some cases 
