58 PROPAGATION 



Fill in the space between the pots with perfectly dry sand or earth. 

 Then till the inner pot with pure sand, and insert the cuttings. 

 Take another pot just of a size that when inverted it may lit in on 

 the earth between the rims of the large and small pots ; break out 

 its bottom, and lay over it a piece of window glass. Water the 

 cuttings as they require it with tepid water, allowing none to fall 

 on the earth between the pots. When condensation of moisture 

 takes place on the pane of glass, merely turn it over." 



Striking cuttings in water. This method is sometimes 

 practised with ornamental plants, and with but little trouble is 

 usually successful. The points to be attended to as conducive to 

 success are : (1) Cuttings to consist of the ends of young vigorous 

 shoots ; (2) capacious opaque or shaded bottles ; (3) water to be 

 changed often to avoid its becoming foul ; (4) the water to be re- 

 placed with tepid water when changed ; (5) the cuttings to be 

 sheltered from wind and direct sun. Aquatics and most plants 

 which like moisture can be readily multiplied by means of cuttings 

 kept in water or in a moist condition. 



Cuttings of Cacti. Striking cuttings by drying them in the 

 sun is effected in .the case of Cactus and similar succulent plants. 

 Sections of these being taken and placed on dry sand will, when 

 become partially shrivelled, produce roots. If placed in the soil in a 

 freshly cut condition, they are liable to decay. 



Propagation by Layers. A layer is a branch or shoot, part 

 of which is introduced into the soil, and strikes root whilst Jed by 

 the parent plant, with which, however, its communication is 

 generally partially interrupted by a cut, slit, or ligature. When 

 propagation by cuttings fails, layering may be resorted to, the latter, 

 though a slower process, being often a more certain method. The 

 operation is as follows : Select a branch of ripened wood of the 

 plant to be layered that will bear being bent down to the earth 

 without breaking ; cut the branch half through with a sharp knife 

 just under one of the leaf-buds, towards its extremity, and then 

 pass the knife upwards, so as to slit the branch about an inch or 

 two up. The slit-piece, with the leaf bud at its extremity, called 

 the " tongue," should be kept open by inserting a small pebble or 

 piece of brick. Bend the branch down, and where the tongue falls 

 remove the earth to the depth of 2 or 3 inches ; the tongue part of 

 the branch is secured in that position by a forked peg, and then 

 covered over with a mixture of fine sand and leaf-mould. This 

 must be kept shaded and moist, to facilitate which an inverted 

 flower-pot may be placed over the spot where the slit is. There 



