62 SEEDLEN^G PROPAGATION OF VAEIETIES. 



part of its bark. The propagation of the Augers 

 Quince, b j layers or cuttings, is manifestly only a con- 

 tinuation of the original individual tree. 



The cuttings should he made in the fall or winter — 

 not later than January^ since the buds will begin to 

 swell in the early, warm days of winter. It is desir- 

 able that the buds should remain in a completely dor- 

 mant state, so that they can make no demand upon 

 the cutting for sap until rootlets have pushed out, and 

 given the cutting ability to furnish it without exhaus- 

 tion. It is not generally considered that roots are 

 never added by influences exterior to the plant, but 

 are the product of the plant itself. The roots of a 

 cutting are formed by the sap contained within itself, 

 which, exuding as healing lymph, is changed into roots 

 under the peculiar conditions of air, moisture, and 

 darkness — which process goes on even in winter, when 

 the ground is not frozen. It will be seen, then, that 

 those plants formed with large evaporating organs in 

 the bark will not readily root, as they part too easily 

 with their sap. The close, dense bark of the Quince, 

 and the hard rind of the outer wood of the Grape 

 peculiarly fit them for this method of propagation ; 

 and we consequently find that, out of thousands of 

 cuttings planted of the Angers variety, but few fail 

 of rooting. 



The cuttings should be planted as early in spring as 

 possible, although their vitality is so great as to sur- 

 vive almost any treatment, in soils fitted for them. 

 During a rather wet June, while trimming some quince 

 stocks, preparatory to budding in August, I directed 

 the trimmings, then in full leaf, and with some inches 



