CHAPTER XIII 



CUTTINGS 



Problems. — (a) What is the best way to make successful 

 cuttings? (b) What are the advantages in propagating 

 plants by cuttings instead of seeds? 



Materials Needed. — A few sharp penknives, a box 

 that may be set on the window sill (one the length of the 

 window and about six inches wide and five or six deep 

 will serve for a window box as well as a propagating box) ; 

 a common starch box or several chalk boxes will do if 

 the window box cannot be made. A few holes should be 

 bored in the bottom for drainage, and a couple of blocks 

 arranged on the window sill on which to set the box. 

 Place some clean fine sand in the box; soil will do if sand 

 cannot be obtained. Water the sand thoroughly and 

 firm it down with a flat piece of board. Make a groove 

 about an inch deep with an old caseknife. Your box is 

 now ready to receive the cuttings. 



No plant is better to make successful cuttings from 

 than the geranium. If there are none growing on the 

 school grounds, some person in the neighborhood who has 

 plants will be glad to let you have a number of large 

 branches or entire plants from which to make cuttings. 

 Select the growing tip of a stem or branch. Cut it off 

 three or four inches in length just below a node or leaf. 

 Make one clean, horizontal cut, break off the lower leaves, 



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