SOFTWOOD CUTTINGS 



225 



Softwood Cuttings may be used in the propagation of 

 nearly all greenhouse plants. For this purpose, wood that 

 is neither too soft nor too hard should be selected. Firm 

 and brittle stems root most readily. In propagating 

 herbaceous plants by softwood cuttings, the tips of the 

 rapid growing shoots are selected. Such cuttings may 

 vary in length from an inch to three or four inches with 



Fig. 123. Softwood cuttings. A geranium plant and shoot taken from it for a cutting. 

 The one held in the hand is ready for planting. Carnation cuttings in the back- 

 ground. 



different plants. Although the base of a cutting is gener- 

 ally cut below the node, it is not always necessary to 

 do so, especially with herbaceous cuttings that root very 

 readily. The leaves are generally removed from the 

 lower portion of the stem and the cutting planted deep 

 enough to hold it in place and insure uniform temperature 

 and moisture. Sometimes a portion of the remaining 



M. AND H. PLANT PROD. 1 5 



