376 



3. " On a New Method of propagating Plants." By E. J. Lowe, 

 Esq., F.R.A.S., F.G.S. &c. Received Nov. 17, 1853. 



The author states that the experiment of a new method of propa- 

 gating plants has been so successful, that he has taken the liberty 

 of forwarding to the Royal Society this short paper upon the sub- 

 ject, for the guidance of those who are interested in the advance of 

 horticulture. 



It had occurred to him, that if a cutting of a plant were sealed 

 at the base, so as to exclude the moisture of the soil from ascending 

 the stem in injurious quantities, the method of striking cuttings of 

 most species of plants would not be so precarious a process as at 

 present ; and accordingly some collodion was obtained in order to 

 make the experiment. 



With respect to this new process, he states, that immediately 

 upon the cutting being severed from the parent stem, the collodion 

 was applied to the wound, and then left a few seconds to dry, after 

 which the cuttings were potted in the ordinary manner. 



To test the value of this new process more effectually, duplicates 

 of all the species experimented upon were at the same time similarly 

 planted, without the collodion being applied to them. 



Experiments were carried on in two different ways ; one batch of 

 cuttings being placed on a hot-bed, whilst a second batch was 

 planted in the open ground, without even the protection of glass. 



First Batch. — All of which were placed on a hot-bed on the 1st 

 of September, and examined on the 1st of October: — 



Stove Plants. 



Number of 

 cuttings 



with 

 collodion 

 applied. 



Name of plant. 



Number of 



cuttings 

 which took 

 root. 



Number of 

 cuttings with- 

 out the appli- 

 cation of col- 

 lodion. 



Number of 



cuttings 

 which took 

 root. 



1 





1 



1 







1 









1 



3 





3 



\ 







3 





3 



3 







2 









2 



1 



2 





2 



2 





8 





7 



8 



6 



2 





2 



2 



1 



2 





2 



2 



1 



2 





2 



2 



1 



Greenhouse Plants. 



6 





5 



6 







3 





1 



3 







6 





3 



6 



2 



6 





6 



6 



6 



1 





1 



1 







1 









1 







2 





2 



2 



1 







1 



1 







1 









1 







2 





2 



2 







4 





2 



4 



2 



