2 
BOTAMCAI, INDEX. 
out-doors enjoyment seems to make the observatory doubly interesting. For this 
reason we have chosen for the first illustration in the second volume of the Index, a 
view of the interior of B. S. Williams’ celebrated “Paradise and Victoria Con- 
servatory,” at London, England. It is here we find the choicest specimens of rare 
plants grown to perfection ; in fact, it is the embodiment of taste, beauty, luxury and 
wealth combined, to which only a limited number of plant lovers can ever expect to 
attain. Perhaps we are safe in saying there are not half a dozen of these gems in 
existence, excepting those under government patronage. So we need not feel dis- 
couraged because we cannot afford the same; but let us enjoy what we have, to the 
fullest extent and with a thankful heart for the privilege. 
THE ART OF PROPAGATING PLANTS. 
|ROBABLY no part of horticultural work is so imperfectly understood by 
the majority of gardeners and nurserymen, as the art of p.opagating plants; 
at least, we must consider it as the best reason for such poor success as often 
attends the efforts of many persons who are very successful in growing 
plants, but who never seem to understand the required treatment necessary 
to successfully start the young plants to growing. We often receive inqui- 
ries for a good book with full instructions for propagating plants, but must* 
always reply that we know of no work complete on the subject. Although 
nearly all good horticultural books, as well as all the agricultural and horticultural 
journals and magazines, usually contain a little information on the subject, and nearly 
all the dealers’ annual seed, plant and tree catalogues usually contain much more 
that is valuable; still, propagators must depend mainly upon personal experience 
for their information. 
In “The Garden,” London, Eng., Oct. 27, 1877, we find a paper on “ Propagating 
Plants by Root Cuttings,” read before the Scottish Horticultural Association, Oct. 2, 
1877, by Robert Lindsay, so full of interest, that after reading it over several times 
we have concluded to republish it in the Index, because most of our readers will 
probably never have the privilege of reading it in its original form. It says: 
“ The most natural meth od of propagation is by means of seed ; but there are many 
plants in cultivation which rarely produce seed, and many more which cannot be 
depended on to come true from seed. Moreover, we have now many hybrids, a class 
of plants which in all probability will be largely increased before long; as is well 
known true hybrids seldom seed, and those which do produce fertile seeds we often 
find reproducing varieties totally different from the kinds we wish to preserve. It is 
evident, therefore, that we must adopt other means to increase those plants, and at 
the same time keep their distinctive peculiarities intact. Fortunately there are many 
ways by which this may be done, such as by means of cuttings of the stem, grafting, 
budding, inarching, layering, division, and the mode which I am about to describe, 
by cuttings of the root. Before doing so, I may mention that it is not always easy to 
distinguish between stem and root; many forms of stems are often confounded with 
roots, such as the rhizomes of the Iris, the corms of the Crocus, the bulbs of the Lily, 
the tubers of the Potato, the soboles of the Conch Grass, &c., which are all forms of 
underground stems. The roots I mean to refer to are different from any of these, but 
inasmuch as they possess the power of forming leaf-buds, they are different from 
true roots, which, according to botanists, have no such power; one of the main dis- 
tinctions between stem and root being the absence of any provision for forming 
leaf-buds on the latter. They appear to be intermediate, that is, can perform the 
functions of both root and stem if placed in favorable circumstances. The propaga- 
tion of plants by means of root cuttings has been long practised, for I find that the 
late Mr. T. A. Knight in 1816 succeeded in growing Apples, Pears, Cherries, and 
Plums, by putting pieces of their roots about a foot long into the open ground. Leaf- 
buds are formed naturally on the roots of Pyrus japonica, Moutan Paeony, Plums, 
Anemone japonica, and a few others. There are many plants which possess this 
power of forming buds on their roots, although they remain dormant until, either by 
accident or design, their roots are cut and they then push buds. It is generally sup- 
posed that the number of plants capable of being propagated in this way is very 
limited; but, judging from my own experience, I am inclined to think that there are 
many more than we are at present aware of. Having got a plant which we know 
will increase by means of roots, the first thing necessary to be done is to shake the 
soil or wash it clean away from the roots; next, cut them into little pieces, generally 
about half inch long; but some kinds, such as the Ipecacuanha, for example, I have 
found to succeed when only one-sixteenth of an inch long ; others require to be about 
one foot long. A curious fact in connection with this is, that usually no more than 
one bud starts, whether the pieces of root be left one-sixteenth of an inch or a foot 
