20 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENS 
PropaAGATION OF Housk PLANTS 
Cuttings. Stem cuttings of herbaceous wood, such as 
geranium, coleus, and plants of similar nature, are 
known as slips. Those from three to four inches in 
length, taken from the ends of new shoots, are best; they 
should have at least two nodes aboveground and one 
below. The slip should be removed from the plant with 
an upward-drawing motion of a sharp 
knife. Take off the slp just below 
a node and trim back the wood on 
the stock from which it has been re- 
moved, to the first node below. That 
part of the stem above the node, if 
not removed, is likely to decay and 
infect other portions. Parts of young 
stems that are not taken from ends 
Fie. 14. A Geranium of shoots may be used if the wood 
eee is trimmed back to the first bud. 
Reduce the foliage one half by cutting off either entire 
leaves or parts of large leaves. Always remove the leaves 
with an upward motion of the knife. If the parts are 
taken off with a clean cut, the wound will heal more 
easily than when ragged edges are left. 
Materials needed. The materials needed are well- 
rotted barnyard manure, leat mold, soil, sand, small 
stones or broken pieces of flowerpots, six-inch flower- 
pots that are four or five inches deep, and china or 
granite-iron plates or indurated-fiber flowerpot saucers 
