PROPAGATION. 



231. 



PROPAGATION. 



be buried at least half the distance 

 between tlie joints, as shown in Fig. 

 2-1 , of the cutting of a China Rose, 



HOSE CUTTING, READY FOR PLANTING ; 

 THE DOTTED LINE SHOWING 

 THE GROUND. 



and in Fig. 25, of a myrtle. In 

 cuttings of the young wood, on the 



FIG. 25. 



A CUTTING OF A MYRTLE PREPARED FOR 

 PLANTING, THE DOTTED LINE SHOWING 

 THE GROUND. 



contrary, where the wood is soft and 

 succulent, it is better to bury only 



the joint in the ground, as shown in 

 Fig. 26, of a Kenned ya, where cuttings 

 are likely to be difficult to strike, the 

 end may be slit as is often done with 

 cuttings of an Orange. In general, 

 the best time for taking off cuttings is 

 when the young shoot is in the act of 

 extending itself by growth ; because 

 the vital principle is then in a state of 

 greater activity, and the swelling of 

 the circular matter at the lower ex- 

 tremity of the cutting, or callosity as 

 it is called by gardeners, from which 

 the roots proceed, is sooner formed. 

 It is of great consequence with all 

 cuttings, where circumstances will ad- 

 mit, to preserve that part of the shoot 



fig. 26. 



CUTTING OF THE YOUNG WOOD OF A 

 KENNEDYA. 



which joins the stem ; because this 

 base, or callosity as it may be called, 

 contains a nucleus of adventitious buds 

 and fibres, from which roots are more 

 readily protruded than from any other 

 part of the cutting. 



In propagating by layers, the slit in 

 the layers should be made just below 

 a bud on the shoot, as described under 

 the head Layering, but without de- 



