PLANTS MULTIPLIED ET CUTTINGS. 



S3 



would exhaust the sap or pulj) contained in the cutting, 

 and very much weaken it, or wholly destroy it. Air is 

 also of some importance in the process of propagation by 

 cuttings, as without air they will become too weak and 

 slender; therefore, where they are placed in the open 

 ground, they should not be planted too deep, and with 

 those which are kept under a hand-glass, the front of the 

 glass should be slightly tilted with a brick or block of wood 

 in fine weather, in order to admit a due quantity of air. 



As most plants may be multiplied by cuttings, and as 

 this operation may be performed by the inexperienced 

 without difficulty, it appears desirable that a few brief 

 directions should be given for increasing different descrip- 

 tions of plants in tliis manner, and it will be convenient 

 to arrange these under three divisions, viz., those which 

 produce hard and woody stems, and are perfectly hardy, 

 such as gooseberries, currants, and other hardy trees and 

 shrubs ; those which have more watery stems, and require 

 some protection in winter, such as pelargoniums (impro- 

 perly called geraniums) and dahlias; and such as are of a 

 woody nature, and not hardy, as many heaths, myrtles, 

 and others of similar habits. 



To propagate gooseberries, currants, and other hardy 

 shrubs, either flowering, or fruit-bearing, by cuttings, due 

 attention must be paid to selecting the shoots, preparing 

 them, and planting them out ; either weak and slender, 

 or strong and luxuriant shoots should be rejected, and 

 those of medium size and strength chosen, for very large 

 shoots would most probably die, and small weak ones 

 would never produce good plants ; therefore, in the 

 autumn, (which is the 2^1'oper time for performing this 

 operation,) after the trees have shed their leaves, the 

 shoots of the previous summer's growth, and of moderate 

 size and strength, should be taken off for the purpose 

 required. Where it is practicable, each shoot should be 

 broken or slipped off v\'ith a small portion of the old stem 

 attached to its base, as this will greatly- facilitate the pro- 

 duction of roots ; for there are always a number of buds 

 about the base of each shoot, and it is from buds alone 

 that roots can be expected to form. This may be done 

 with great propriety in the gooseberry, as gooseberry trees 



