63 



PROPAGATION BY CUTTINGS. 



Almost an tlie plants of this natural order will strike root by cuttings ; 

 some sorts, however, requiring a longer period to do so than others. The 

 most eligible wood for this purpose is the young wood of the present 

 year's growth, when it becomes partially hardened, so as not to be liable 

 to damp off. It would be impossible to convey an idea to the unin- 

 itiated, of the proper state that the wood should be in for this pur- 

 pose, but the cultivator who knows any thing of the matter, will readily 

 understand us when we say, the wood should be fuUy matured, but before 

 it had attained its dark colour, and to be, when shghtly pressed between 

 the finger and thumb, somewhat firm, but neither pelding to the touch 

 nor yet quite hard. In regard to the length of the cuttings, much depen<fc 

 on the habit of the different species. Some of the robust grovdng sorts 

 may be from an inch to an inch and a half in [length, while others of the 

 more shy grovdng kinds can only be obtained about half that length. The 

 cuttings selected, should be chosen from the healthiest plants, and taken 

 off close to where they issue from the old wood. In preparing the cat- 

 tings, the leaves should be cut clean from the shoot, either with a sharp 

 knife or fine pair of scissors, the end should be cut transversely across in a 

 neat manner, so as not to leave the wound ragged or bruised. The leaves 

 should, upon no account, be shortened, neither should any more of them 

 be taken off than just so far as the cutting is to be inserted into the sand. 



With respect to the proper season for putting in cuttings of this order 

 of plants, and indeed of most other slow growing kinds, the spring is the 

 best, for the same reason given above for sowing seeds. 



It sometimes happens, however, that cuttings cannot be obtained In a 

 proper state at that season : when such is the case, recourse must be had 

 to inducing the old plants to make wood fit for the purpose. This is to be 

 effected by placing them into a little heat early in spring, they wiU then 

 make plenty of young wood, which is the best for cuttings. In extensive 

 genera, like that of erica, it would be impossible to state any particular 

 period of the year for commencing the operation of propagation by cut- 

 tings, because some one or other of them are in a fit state for the purpose 

 on almost every day in the year ; therefore, the time for putting in cuttings 

 should be regulated rather by the state of the plant than by the time 

 of the year. 



The method of preparing the pots is not essentially different from that 

 recommended above for seeds, draining being the chief object to be kept 

 in view. 



