PROPAGATION BY CUTTINGS. 39 



soil remains loose the cutting will suffer from 

 lack of moisture. The work of planting cut- 

 tings is much facilitated by using a piece of 

 wood about 6 inches long and about the thick- 

 ness of one's little finger for making the hole 

 in the soil to receive the cutting, and for 

 compressing the soil around its base Water 

 and tend the boxes as in the case of seeds. 



3. Plant a number of cuttings so as to 

 provide material for examination. At short 

 intervals remove one or more cuttings from 

 the soil and note carefully the changes which 

 have taken place ; these examinations should 

 continue until the relationship of the resulting 

 new plant to the cutting is clearly established. 

 Sketches or diagrams should accompany all 

 the notes. 



4. Plant a similar series of cuttings of 

 larger plants in garden beds, using for this 

 purpose such plants as sugar-cane, cassava, 

 sweet potato, ginger and arrowroot. At short 

 intervals note the changes taking place. 



5. Place cuttings of croton and coleus 

 in bottles of water. After a time, roots will 

 develop, and their growth and character may be 

 observed. It is convenient to use a white 

 bottle wrapped round with paper or cloth to 

 exclude the light. 



