188G.] CHAPTERS ON PROPAGATING. 749 



most convenient. All conifene and other evergreens that are 

 naturally of pyramidal habit must be selected with perfect terminal 

 buds or leaders, otherwise it will be difficult to re-establish them, 

 and care sliould be taken to avoid injury to the leading Ijuds 

 either in the making or the planting of tliem. 



In the making of cuttings it is a sound rule to square the base 

 clean and smooth over close to a liud or joint with a sharp knife. 

 It is far from essential or necessary, I admit, to do so in every case. 

 There are some subjects with which the forester has ordinarily to 

 deal that will strike roots from any part of the stem freely, even 

 without incision of any kind, if they are merely stuck into the 

 ground right or wrong end up. The willow and the poplar are 

 familiar examples of this accommodating description, but they are 

 comparatively few, and will succeed none the worse that they are 

 treated according to tlie rule laid down. Deciduous cuttings, and 

 diffuse or bushy-growing evergreens, may have their central buds 

 cut out or not according to circumstances. 



The subsequent treatment of cuttings begins with the necessity 

 of preventing their exposure for any length of time to the atmo- 

 sphere after they are made. Neglect of this is often the cause of 

 very serious failure. If they cannot be at once planted in the beds 

 or positions they are finally to occupy, let them be tied together 

 according to their sorts in small bundles, and covered up in soil or 

 sand or sawdust, and kept moist till convenience permits of their 

 being planted. Evergreens suffer most from exposure, and should 

 be the more promptly attended to. All the more easily propagated 

 sorts may be planted in any well-sheltered border or plot, where 

 they will not be exposed to cold dry winds in spring, or to the sun 

 during the meridian hours. It is essential that the ground should 

 be light and well drained ; if not light enough, it should be made 

 so by means of a liberal allowance of sand being intermixed with 

 it near the root or butt-ends of the cuttings. They should be 

 planted by means of the spade in lines in the same way as any 

 other kind of small nursery stock, and thickly enough to economize 

 space, yet with sufficient room to enable them to stand undisturbed 

 till they are fully rooted. Make them thoroughly firm in the 

 process of planting to prevent drought reaching their butts, and 

 plant them so that in the case of deciduous subjects there may be 

 very little of the top visible above ground, and of evei'greens only 

 the portion of the stem having leaves attached to it. As soon as 

 they are planted it is well to give them a slight sprinkling over 

 with bracken, or with light stable litter, the former being the best, 

 to protect them alike from frost and from drying winds ; this 

 covering should be allowed to remain over them till all danger of 

 their suffering from either contingency is past. 



