MANAGEMENT OF CUTTINGS. 87 



roots proceed. Next, you will find the wood 

 of some plants, such as roses, &c., and, indeed, 

 I believe, of most shrubs, requires to be what is 

 termed ripe, that is, to have attained its full 

 maturity, or growth, before it is fit for cuttings ; 

 while again, in others, as heaths, &c., it is im- 

 possible to strike cuttings from any thing but 

 the young tender shoots. 



I know no rule, by which I can tell you how 

 to distinguish between those plants which re- 

 quire to have the cuttings taken from the old or 

 from the young wood, except that if the wood, 

 when mature, is very hard, it is found not pos- 

 sible to make it strike roots, except in a young 

 state. These are exemplified in the case of 

 heaths, where the wood is extremely hard ; 

 and in the case of roses, where it is soft and 

 full of pith in the middle. 



The pots, in which cuttings are to be struck, 



