68 GARDEN AND FARM TOPICS. 



PROPAGATION BY CUTTINGS. 



This is the way in which the largest number of plants 

 are propagated. As now understood, this is a simple 

 matter. Formerly no operation in horticulture was more 

 befogged by ignorant pretenders, who, in writing or 

 speaking on the subject, so warped the operation with 

 troublesome conditions as to discourage, not only ama- 

 teurs in horticulture, but inexperienced professional gar- 

 deners as well. 



One of the first necessary conditions in the propagation 

 of plants by cuttings is, that the plant from which the 

 cutting or slip is taken must be in vigorous health. If 

 weak or tainted by disease, failure is almost certain to 

 result If, for example, we wish to root cuttings of green- 

 house or bedding plants, such as Bouvardias, Chrysanthe- 

 mums, Fuchsias, Geraniums, Heliotropes, Salvias, Verbenas, 

 etc., one of the best guides to ib& proper condition is when 

 the cutting breaks or snaps clean off instead of bending 

 or "kneeing." If it snaps off so as to break, then it is in 

 the condition to root freely; if it bends, it is too old, and 

 though it will root, it will root much slower, and make a 

 weaker plant than the slip that snaps off on being bent. 

 With very few exceptions, and those of but little import- 

 ance, cuttings of all kinds root freely from slips taken 

 from the young wood, that is, the young growth, before it 

 gets hardened, and when in the condition indicated by 

 the "snapping test," as it is called. 



I believe I was the first to call attention to this valu- 

 able test of the condition of the cutting (snapping) in 

 my work, Practical Floriculture, first published in 1868. 

 A very general idea is current that cuttings must be cut 

 at or below an eye or joint. The practice of this system 



