PROPAGATION OF PLANTS BY CUTTINGS. 



43 



all kinds of plants are certain to take root in from ten to 

 twenty days. But the cuttings must be in the right 

 condition, and this is best shown by the engravings (fig. 

 13). It will be observed that the upper portion of the 

 shoot is snapped or broken, while the other is only kneed 

 or bent ; this snapping point, as we now term it, is a 

 true indication of proper condition of the cutting ; where 

 it bends and does not break, it is too hard, and though a 



Fig. 13. — PROPER AND IMPROPER STATE OE CETTES'G. 



cutting will root, when in that condition, it will be 

 slower in doing so, and the roots thrown out from it will 

 be weaker and more wiry than when emitted from a 

 cutting taken in the condition in which it breaks. Be- 

 sides the plant grown from the older cutting will not 



