PLANTS MULTIPLIED BY CUTTINGS. 



31 



to form leaves and branches, and, in course of time, attain 

 to the size and vigour of the parent plant. Every tree, 

 shrub, or plant, that is capable of producing buds, may 

 be readily multiplied in this manner ; for each bud con- 

 tains in itself the rudiment of another plant, and only 

 requires to be separated from the parent plant, and 

 judiciously treated, to enable it to produce leaves, shoots, 

 fruit, or seed, and roots whereby these several parts may 

 be nourished and brought to perfection. 



This is one of the most important discoveries and 

 achievements of science, as by it almost every description 

 of plants maybe multiplied, that do not produce seeds, or 

 are not capable of propagating and extending their species 

 by seed. 



We have above observed, that each bud is capable of 

 producing a distinct plant, and this is sufficiently proved 

 by the vine and potato, though, in these, the young buds 

 are usually termed eyes. But where young shoots are 

 abundact, or where they are slender and of a watery 

 nature, it is important that each shoot intended for a 

 cutting, should have three or more buds above the surface 

 of the soil in which they are planted. 



To ensure success in the performance of this operation, 

 attention must be paid to the following general particulars. 

 The cuttings should invariably be made of the young and 

 newly formed wood, but it is important that the lower 

 extremity of them should not be too young and soft, other- 

 wise it will become gorged with moisture and rot ; neither 

 should it be too old and hard, for, in this case, it would 

 not imbibe sufficient moisture to keep it alive, much less 

 to induce it to grow. Therefore^ in selecting shoots of 

 any plant for cuttings, care should be taken to cut them 

 off just at the junction of the old and young wood, by 

 which means either of the above extremes will be avoided. 

 Again, shoots intended for cutting should always be taken 

 off just below a bud, as they will only form roots from 

 the buds or eyes, and if a bud is not left at the base, the 

 end of the cutting will be liable to rot ; the ends also 

 should be cut as smoothly as possible, taking care not to 

 bruise the bark, or leave it jagged. 



Cuttings, like seeds, require a due degree of heat, 



