PROPAGATION OF PLANTS 



21 



giving enough to make the sand thoroughly wet all 

 through, and aim to keep it in this condition. Set in 

 a warm place. A sunny window answers very well. 

 If you allow the sand to get dry the young roots will 

 be injured, if not killed, and the result is that you are 

 quite likely to lose your cutting by your neglect to 



FIG S — SAUCER PROPAGATION 



give the proper care. Most cuttings will start roots 

 in a week, but they should not be taken from the sand 

 for at least two or three weeks. When young leaves 

 are put forth freely you may know that it is safe to 

 transfer the young plant to a pot. This method of 

 propagation is shown in Fig 5. 



Such plants as the Bouvardia and Chrysanthe- 

 mum can be propagated easily by making division 

 of the roots, and this method is to be preferred to 

 taking cuttings of them. Geraniums will grow if the 

 end of the cutting comes in contact with any kind 

 of soil. Heliotropes start easily, as do Fuchsias, 

 Lantanas, Pelargoniums and Abutilons. The Carna- 

 tion is propagated most surely by layering. This 

 method consists in bending down a branch without 

 severing it from the parent plant, and inserting it, at 

 the bend, in soil. It is well to give the branch a 

 little twist, or to about half cut through it at the 

 place where the bend is. This cut, or fracture, 

 interrupts the flow of sap in some degree, and leads 



