78 



THE BEGINNER'S GARDEN BOOK 



slanting. Then some of the leaves should be stripped, and 



the rest trimmed a little, so as to leave for each cutting but a 



few inches of leaf. These 

 cuttings should set in the 

 sand to a depth of about 

 two inches, and the sand 

 kept wet and warm until 

 the cuttings have struck 

 root. They may stand 

 pretty close together, and 

 occasionally, after about 

 ten days, one or more may 

 be examined to see if the 

 roots have started. When 

 the end of the cutting has 

 healed over, roots are sure 

 to start soon. 



The box of cuttings 



should be kept in a room that is warm in the daytime, and 



never less than 50 degrees at night. It should have plenty 



of light, but should be shaded 



from the hot sun except for a 



little while each day. The 



cuttings start best if heat is 



applied below, by setting the 



box on a radiator. And they 



may be helped if the box is set 



in another, with glass laid on 



top. But the air in this outer 



box should not be kept too 



moist, for fear of disease; and so the glass should not be 



tight, and should be occasionally entirely removed. 



From such plants as the begonia and gloxinia, cuttings 



Fig. 45. — Softwood cutting, a geranium 

 Line shows depth to plant. 



Fig. 46. — Box for starting cuttings. 

 Do not keep it too moist. 



