THE GARDEN AT HOME 



We can thus summarise the conditions under which 

 cuttings of green or soft growth may be expected to form 

 roots : (i) Exclusion of air ; (2) moist soil when the 

 cuttings are put in, and frequent light syringing after- 

 wards ; (3) shade. The most notable exceptions to these 

 rules are found among the Cactus and allied plants. They 

 need very little moisture and a sunny, airy place ; their 

 succulent growths seem to furnish all the moisture that 

 is necessary, and sustain the cuttings while the process 

 of root formation is proceeding. 



Usually it is unwise to leave cuttings lying about 

 between the time of removal from the parent plant and 

 their insertion in the soil, but an exception is found in 

 the Geranium ; the sappy growths form roots more 

 readily when they are placed on a sunny shelf for a few 

 hours. An excess of moisture must be carefully guarded 

 against, or the cuttings are very liable to decay. 

 ;r j It is extremely interesting to observe the progress 

 of a cutting as the various stages of root formation are 

 passed through. Usually the cuttings droop a little for 

 the first few hours after being inserted, and afterwards 

 recover freshness and vitality. If a cutting of soft 

 growth is examined at the end of, say, a week, a slight 

 swelling may be seen at the extreme base. Probably in 

 another week the points of rootlets may be distinguished 

 just emerging from this swollen ring of tissue or " callus," 

 as it is technically termed, and in another week or so 

 the roots will be perhaps half an inch long. The time 



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