432 FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



with its new roots is lowered into a pot, the old " leg " or stem being thrown 

 away. Sometimes individual branches are rooted and lowered in this manner. 



3. Separation. This is a strictly natural method of plant propagation. 

 Next to seedage, separation is the most universal method of natural multi- 

 plication. Man simply employs it, he scarcely ever modifies it. Under this 

 denomination are propagation by bulbs, corms, bulblets, bulb-scales and 

 tubers. These parts detach themselves naturally or nearly so. Propagation 

 by true bulbs is performed in the case of onions, lilies, etc. ; mostly with mem- 

 bers of the lily family. A corni is a solid bulb, one which is not made up of 

 different layers. The best examples occur in crocuses and gladioli. A 

 bulblet differs from a bulb in being borne upon the stem of the plant above 

 the surface. Examples of these occur in " top onions " and some lilies. 

 Bulb scales are simply the leaves or layers of bulbs. Tubers are of many 

 kinds. They are short, thickened portions of roots or stems. A rocft tuber 

 is furnished by the sweet potato, a stem tuber by the common potato. 

 Although the common potato is borne under ground, it is but a thickened 

 subterranean stem as shown by its buds or " eyes " and its manner of growth. 



4. Division is but a step removed from separation ; man separates the 

 plant and causes each part to establish itself. We practice division in mul- 

 tiplying rhubarb and many ornamental plants. Division always means a 

 gross dividing of the root. When this dividing proceeds a step farther, so 

 that we divide the stems or other parts into small pieces, we have 



5. Cuttage, propagation by cuttings. Cuttings are fragments of the plant 

 bearing no roots, or in the case of root cuttings, bearing no small roots. 

 Cuttings are inserted directly in the soil for the formation of roots or, in 

 rare cases, in water. Herein lies the radical distinction between cuttings and 

 grafts. Cuttings are of four leading kinds: 



a. Of Stems. — These are again divided into cuttings of growing wood and 

 cuttings of ripened wood. Cuttings of growing wood are mostly used in 

 green-houses and floriculture. Nearly all plants can be made to " strike " 

 from these soft cuttings, however, under careful management. No rule can 

 be laid down to govern the time of making soft cuttings and the manner o 

 treating them. Most herbaceous perennial plants which are started under 

 glass for out-of-door decorations in summer are the products of cutting 

 made in February. Soft cuttings vary in length, but they are nearly always 

 shorter than hard cuttings. They commonly comprise but two joints, being 

 cut close below one joint and above the other or upper one. These are then 

 inserted about half their length in sharp sand, under glass. This sand 

 is necessary, as it affords perfect drainage at the same time that it pre- 

 serves a moist and loose condition. This sand is usually sifted through a 

 common flour sieve in order to separate all lumps, roots, and bulky organic 

 matter. In ordinary soil such cuttings will rot or ''damp off." These soft 

 cuttings usually require a bottom heat, also. They are placed on the benches 

 in the forcing house or green-house, or in a steady hot-bed. The soil should 

 be a few degrees warmer than the air about the cuttings. The philosophy of 

 this is to prevent evaporation from the green, soft stem, and the portion of a 

 leaf which is usually left at the upper joint. The warm bottom stimulates a 

 root growth, rather than a leaf growth. The root growth once established, 

 the leaf and stem growth will come of themselves. Soft cuttings are commonly 

 started close to the glass; that is, the space between the soil and the glass is 

 but a few inches. This arrangement is to check evaporation. The more air 



