PROPAGATION BY MEANS OF CUTTINGS 



101 



and the same remark applies to certain other so-called root- 

 cuttings. ; > J; ";*>v 5v 



While root-cuttings perpetuate the variety, they'oto' not 

 always transmit variegations, or other characteristics of the 



FIG. 105. Horse-radish root-cuttings. 



top. For example, the variegated prickly comfrey does not 

 always come true from root-cuttings. If the top is a graft, 

 of course the root-cutting will not reproduce the stock, unless 

 the given roots may have started from the cion. Thus the 

 roots of dwarf pears may be either quince from the stock, or 

 pear from the cion. 



Cuttings of leaves 



Many thick and heavy leaves may be used as cuttings. 

 Leaf-cuttings are most commonly employed in the showy- 

 leaved begonias, in 

 succulents, and in 

 gloxinias, but many 

 plants can be prop- 

 agated by them. 

 Even the cabbage 

 can be made to 

 grow from leaf- 

 cuttings.- Thebry- 

 ophyllum is one of 



FIG. 106. Lsaf-propagation of bryophyllum. 



the best plants for showing the possibilities of propagation 

 by leaves. If one of the thick leaves is laid on moss or sand 



