rm roots; but it is far easier for you children
and for schools to place the slips immediately into the earth of the
window box.

"The slipping process itself is easy. Suppose we have a big, old
geranium from which to take our slips. It is full of branches. These
branches or stems have around them at intervals rings called nodes. The
space between two nodes is called an internode. On the nodes are what
seem to be small leaves. Press one aside, notice between it and the stem
what appears to be a very small bud. Here a new shoot can start.

"So choose a branch, pick off all the large leaves except two at the
extreme end. If there are more than two, choose the two smallest
leaves. Now it is ready to cut. About four inches down the stem cut it
off between two nodes. Do not cut straight across the stem but cut
slantwise.

"You have now as I have in my hand, a geranium slip which is four inches
long. At one end of the stalk are two leaves; the other end is cut
obliquely across. Before you plant this slip look between the two leaves
and see if there is a small bud. If so, and it is all green, leave it.
For this green means that as the bud develops only leaves will unfold.
If you see any other colour in the bud, pinch it out with your fingers.
The colour tells us that the bud is a flower bud. If this be left on the
slip, all the strength of the little plant will be taken up in forming
the blossom. A new plant is not strong enough to stand this. It needs
all its power for plant growth.

"Plant the slip in your window box, burying it in earth above the first
node; that is, the node just above the cut. Thus you have buried in the
earth the place where roots will form.

"Crowd the slips in, three or four inches only apart. They should not be
exposed to the full glare of the sun at first. Some gardeners say to let
the slips wilt before watering. But it is quite safe to water a little
from the first. Do not soak the soil, however, or the young plants will
decay.

"Now the slips may be put right into a window box, or into these flats.
I would not place them immediately in a sunny window. But place them
where the sun does not shine directly. It is excellent to leave window
boxes and newly potted plants outdoors for a time, until in the fresh
air they get accustomed to their new living conditions."

"Shall we fix up the school window boxes now?" asked Josephine.

"Yes, we will get right at that. But first I will give you a wind