95° 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



scaly rhizomes, which may be treated as- seeds, and planted in 

 pans or boxes in a very light soil in warm frames until they 

 are strong enough to be transplanted. 



Division of Plants. — Many plants are propagated by this 

 means, and it may in some respects be applied to all bushy- 

 growing subjects, such as many of our stove and hardy plants. 

 Many Aroids are easily divided into several pieces ; so are 

 Curculigos, Aspidistras, and all plants giving several young 

 shoots. The chief points are that each division should possess 

 enough roots, and that it should be potted up freshly, and be 

 carefully treated after the operation. This kind of propagation 

 is the simplest in horticulture. It is the way in which Marantas, 

 a great number of Ferns, and the majority of our Orchids are 

 propagated. The period for the operation varies with individual 

 plants, but it is most successfully performed when they begin 

 to grow. 



Suckers are shoots of underground origin, generally found 

 growing by the side of the parent plant, and numerous plants 

 may be propagated thereby. When suckers are detached they 

 should, if possible, have a few roots attached to them, to enable 

 them to start growing quickly. Suckers from any origin must be 

 treated as young plants; a lighter, soil must be used, no excess 

 of humidity allowed, and the plants kept on a warm bed to 

 facilitate starting. Pine-apples are often propagated thus : the 

 suckers are cut ( off, left for a few days in order for the cut to 

 "callus," and then placed on a strong bottom-heat in fibre or 

 light soil, when they soon begin to grow. Cycas and nearly 



all Bromeliads, &c, are 

 chiefly reproduced by this 

 method. A common example 

 is the well-known Globe 

 Artichoke, which is often 

 propagated by suckers from 

 the old stocks. The separa- 

 tion of the suckers generally 

 takes place in May. Care 

 must be taken to have a 

 good amount of soil over 

 the roots, and they should 

 be planted out in a well- 

 manured ground. Suckers 

 have the great advantage of 

 reproducing the true type. 



Division of Rootstocks. 



— A great number of our 



stove and greenhouse plants, such as Aralias, Bouvardias, 



Dracaenas, &c, may be propagated by division of their roots; 



Fig. bi 7.— Dahlia Roots, showing 

 Tuber-like Roots, with Mode 

 of Division foe Propagation. 



