PROPAGATION 61 



the branch. It is tilled with moss or soil, which is kept moist by a 

 drip from a bottle of water - fixed above it, with the cork pierced 

 so that the water can drip slowly on to the branch operated upon. 



Propagation by Suckers. A sucker is a stem or shoot which 

 springs from a subterranean portion of a plant or tree. Two kinds 

 of suckers may be distinguished, namely root suckers, which arise 

 from adventitious buds on the roots, and stein-suckers which spring 

 from the base of the stem below the surface of the soil. The 

 former can be severed from the parent plant and removed with 

 roots attached. Bananas (Plantains) are a familiar example of this 

 process of propagation. Stein suckers spring from the base of the 

 stem, at or below the surface of the soil, and their growth is at the 

 expense of the part of the plant above them. Plants which have 

 been heavily pruned or pollarded, often produce stem-suckers freely. 

 The latter when required for propagation may be encouraged to 

 produce roots by partly severing them with a knife from the stem, 

 and earthing them up with some good sandy mould, which should 

 be kept moist. Stem-suckers are generally injurious to the plant 

 producing them and, especially in ^the case of grafted or budded 

 plants, should be cut away as fast as they appear, unless they spring 

 from the scion and not from the stock. Pineapples are generally 

 propagated by means of stem-suckers. 



Propagation by Leaves. Many succulent plants, as Begonias, 

 Gloxinia, Bryophyllum, etc., may be increased from leaves. The 

 latter should be placed on a damp surface of a light sandy soil, and 

 kept in position by being partly buried, or held down with small 

 wooden pegs. 



Propagation by Eyes. Many plants, especially those of a 

 succulent nature, may be propagated readily by eyes or buds. The 

 method is simply to take a plump shoot or stem on which there are 

 buds not yet developed ; cut this in a slanting direction into short 

 lengths, about 3 inch above and below the bud. The pieces, having 

 at least one eye or bud upon each, are planted firmly in a pan or 

 box of fine sand and soil, with which they should be just covered. 

 The sand or soil should be kept moist and shaded, and the eyes 

 may be further encouraged to start into growth by a sheet of glass 

 being kept over the surface. 



Propagation by Roots. Some plants may be readily in- 

 creased by cuttings of the roots, these being inserted in a sandy 

 mixture of soil, and kept damp and shaded. Aerial roots, developed 

 from the upper limbs or branches of species of Ficus and other 



