Propagation by Cuttings. 201 
in the proper condition to root promptly, but if it bends 
without breaking, it has become too hard. Cutting below 
a node is not essential to the formation of roots* in herb- 
aceous plants. 
While the propagating house or hotbed is necessary to the 
extensive multiplication of herbaceous plants by green cut- 
tings, the amateur may readily propagate a limited number 
of plants by the so-called “saucer system,” during the tem- 
perate months of the year. The cuttings may be placed in 
glazed saucers containing sand, that should be kept saturated 
with water. The saucers may be placed in any warm, well- 
lighted place, as the window of a living room. The stems 
of the cuttings being in this case in direct contact with the 
water in the bottom of the saucer, require less shading than 
cuttings in the propagating bed. 
381. Howto Make Green Cuttings of Woody Plants. 
‘Cuttings of woody plants are preferably made of harder 
growths than those best suited to herbaceous plants. They 
should be selected from young shoots of medium size, and 
from half-mature wood, and should generally contain from 
two to three nodes, though where the material for cuttings is 
scarce, single buds may be used in many plants. The base 
of the cutting is preferably cut shortly below a node, but 
this is not essential in all plants. 
A mild bottom heat is of advantage in this kind of propa- 
gation, though it is sometimes carried on during the summer 
months without artificial heat. 
382. Propagation by Leaf Cuttings. A considerable 
number of plants, including the bryophyllum, begonia, ges- 
* In a few plants, as the dahlia, the presence of a dormant bud at the crown is 
essential to the development of the stem the succeeding year. Cuttings of such 
plants should therefore be made below a node, if the roots are desired for future 
use. 
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