NEW PLANTS FROM OLD PIECES 7 



several new plants (see figure 142). It is easy to take these scales and, 

 after setting them to half their depth in light soil, to follow out the 

 process. In propagating begonias, gardeners break the ribs of the 

 leaves which they detach from the plant and peg them down to the 

 ground ; buds and leaves and roots are formed as may be seen in 

 Figure 143. Other leaves, such as those of gloxinia, can be induced 



Photograph by Wilfred Mark Webb. 



FIGURE 143. A Begonia leaf producing new plants. 



to do the same if treated in a similar way ; and if the stalks of the 

 leaves of peperomia and saintpaulia* are stuck into pots of soil, 

 they will root and send out buds. 



Successful experiments can also be made with the leaves of various 



* See Appendix. 



