Many plants grow readily from cuttings of ripe or dormant wood. The willows cast their branchlets in snow and wind, and these, falling in pleasant places propagate their kind; and thus the river sides and the lake shores become willow-crowned.
Grapes, currants, gooseberries, poplars readily take root from the hardwood. [Fig. 264] shows a currant cutting. It has only one bud above the ground.
Fig. 262. Old geranium plant cut back to make it throw out shoots from which cuttings can be made.
The best results are attained when the cuttings are made in the fall, and then buried until spring in sand in the cellar. They are not idle while they rest. The lower end calluses or heals, and the roots form more readily when the cutting is planted in the spring. But if the children are interested, take cuttings at any time in winter, plant them in a deep box in the window, and watch. They will need no shading or special care.
When plants of any variety are scarce, the cuttings may be shorter. Sometimes they are reduced to a single "eye" or bud, with an inch or two of wood attached; and these single-eye cuttings are planted much as one plants seeds.
Fig. 263. Begonia leaf cutting. Natural size.