34 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE METHOD EMPLOYED IN THE VEGETATIVE 

 PROPAGATION OF LEGUMINOUS PLANTS. 



The method, as here described, apphes specifically to alfalfa. 

 Slight modifications miay be necessary in case of its application to 

 other species. 



The cuttings should be made about three inches in length, prefer- 

 abl}^ from the upper portion of reasonably matured stems. Plants 

 gro^vn outside the greenhouse produce the best cuttings, but in case 

 the stock plants are not near at hand it is generally advisable to 

 transplant them to the greenhouse, cutting the stems back close to 

 the ground. Such plants will give an abundance of good material 

 for cuttings \vithin two weeks. It is practicable, when the cutting 

 material is limited in quantity, to utilize also the middle and lower 

 portions of the stem. In any case, two or three nodes should be 

 included in each cutting, the lower being near the base to facilitate 

 rooting. It is possible to secure a second set of cuttings from the 

 original ones when they have grown to twice their original height, 

 usually about three weeks after potting. The upper cuttings of the 

 original stem are best adapted to this second series of cuttings, as 

 the terminal growth is not interrupted. (PI. I, fig. 1.) 



The slips should be inserted in sand (PL I, fig. 2) and when the 

 largest roots are three-fourths of an inch in length thev should be 

 transferred to 2-mch pots, and later on to 3-inch pots. (PL II, fig. 1.) 

 The size which the plants can attain in such pots without becoming 

 pot-bound will permit them to be transplanted to the permanent 

 nursery rows, if the season be suitable, or to an outside cold frame 

 (PL II, fig. 2), to remain dormant till spring, in case the cuttings are 

 made during the winter. Greenhouse facilities are desirable, though 

 not essential. It is possible with 30 square feet of greenhouse space 

 and 90 square feet of cold frames to secure, during a single winter, 

 1,000 plants from an alfalfa plant of average size. In the northern 

 portions of the L'nited States the conditions of the weather ma}^ be 

 too severe to permit of transfer to outside cold frames. In the south- 

 ern portion of the country cold frame protection may not be neces- 

 sary, but some means should be adopted to protect the plants from 

 other sources of danger until they can be permanently transplanted. 



The efficiency of the method is shown by the fact that at least 

 95 per cent of alfalfa cuttings become well rooted in the pots. The 

 newly potted cuttings should be watered sparingly and shaded from 

 direct sunlight for the first two days. Wliere it has been necessary 

 to transfer the plants to cold frames at Washington, D. C, in mid- 

 winter, the loss has been as high as 10 per cent, owing to the sudden 

 change of temperature. Cloth protection is recommended, as the 

 plants, havmg been grown in the greenhouse, are likely to be tender. 



102— IV 



