Propagation of Plants by Cuttings. 123 



Art. V. Propagatio7i of Plants by Cuttings. By William 

 Saunders, New Haven, Conn. 



This is one of those manipulations in gardening, which 

 require more than an ordinary degree of skill in its execu- 

 tion, and from the exceedingly varied success of different 

 individuals, one would suppose, that something more than 

 mere practice is necessary to ensure complete and unvarying 

 success. This fact is more apparent, when we consider the 

 numerous casualties by which cuttings are affected, and our 

 imperfect knowledge of the laws that govern the mysterious 

 organization of vegetable life. 



This diversity of success may partly arise from the differ- 

 ent notions which different persons have of the same thing ; 

 and it may frequently be traced to an unwarrantable reliance 

 which some persons place upon certain points of practice, 

 having in reality, no relation to the demonstrable theorem 

 upon which the subject in question rests. Every one ac- 

 quainted with the art of propagation is aware, that, under 

 certain conditions, cuttings will grow and make shoots witti- 

 out forming rootlets ; while under others, the same cuttings 

 will produce rootlets without manifesting the slightest elon- 

 gation of its external buds. Again, under certain circum- 

 stances, the leaves of some kinds of cuttings will turn yellow 

 and decay, while under others, the same kind of cuttings 

 will remain green and healthy for months together, even 

 without forming roots. The effect produced upon one sub- 

 ject, is precisely the same upon all subjects of a similar na- 

 ture, placed in the same conditions, proving that the art of 

 propagation is not, (as it is in the hands of many,) the mere 

 consequence of an unguidable operation, successful or other- 

 wise, as chance may direct, but that it is founded upon prin- 

 ciples which cannot be violated with impunity, if we wish 

 for satisfactory results. 



From these observations it is obvious, that something more 

 is requisite, than merely to know how to make a cutting and 



