THE SCHOOL GARDEN 287 



or four weeks for the roots to form. When these have been 

 well developed, bring the pots or box to the light into a 

 warmer room. When the tops appear, give plenty of light and 

 water. They will now grow rapidly and soon blossom. 

 Tulips, narcissuses, crocuses, hyacinths, freesias, etc., are 

 good for such culture. 



Cuttings: Plants for summer bedding in the borders 

 may be started from slips or cuttings made in winter. The 

 best flowering geraniums are those started early in the winter 

 from cuttings. To make cuttings select such parts as break 

 with a snap, and cut pieces with about two joints. Trim off 

 large leaves or cut off half the blade to reduce evaporation, 

 set into clean, sharp sand in shallow boxes, and keep the soil 

 moist and warm. When the cutting has made sufficient 

 roots, in about four or six weeks, it may be taken from the 

 tray and potted. Coleus, fuchsia, carnations, and many 

 other plants can thus be propagated. Begonia leaves cut 

 into pieces, and partly covered with soil will form new plants 

 readily. An interesting experiment is to take a large leaf of 

 a bryophyllum plant and hang it up, preferably in a moist, 

 dark place. The leaf will form numerous buds around the 

 margin, which may be cut out and planted. Cutting a 

 potato into pieces for planting is similar to making shps. 

 The pieces should have one or two eyes. 



Roses also may be grown from cuttings. The best wood 

 for such is taken from just below a flower. Cut the wood 

 into as many pieces as there are buds. 



Willows, lilacs, grapes, and many berry shrubs are grown 

 from cuttings made of twigs, in the dormant condition in fall 

 or winter. Cut the twigs into lengths of from 8 to 1 2 inches, 

 each with several buds or joints. They should then be 



