152 PROPAGATION OF PLANTS. 



ing kinds of trees, vines and shrubs of rare kinds, the 

 cutting being laid down in a shallow trench, or set up- 

 right, and then Qoyered to the depth of a half inch or a 

 little more with light soil, or some material that will 

 retain moisture well, ,and at the same time permit the 

 young shoots to. push readily thrqugh it. Single bud, or 

 very short cuttings, when planted in the open ground, 

 require more attention than longer ones, in order to pre- 

 vent injury during dry weather ; still, with proper care, 

 they will usually make excellent and vigorous plants. 

 As a rule, however, the niost convenient lengths for what 

 are called ripe- wood cuttings of deciduous trees and 

 shrubs, are from six to ten inches, although they are .of ten 

 made much longer, which is not only a waste of material, 

 but quite frequently a disadvantage when planting them ; 

 for in order to bury the cutting its entire length, as usu- 

 ally practised, it must either be set at an acute angle or 

 the lower end placed almost beyond the influence of solar 



heat, an element as essen- 

 tial for the production and 

 growth of roots on cuttings 

 planted in the open air, as 

 for the germination of seeds. 

 Planting jsuttings too deep 

 should be avoided, ^s the 

 farther from the surface 



Fig. 51.-TRENCH FOR CUTTINGS. 



they Deceive, and this is quite necessary to insure rapid 

 growth, especially after they haveBecbme well rooted. 



PLANTING THE CUTTINGS. The surface of a cutting- 

 bed should be level, smooth, free from lumps and stones. 

 Draw a line across .the bed and dig a trench, by placing 

 the back of the spade against the lineTpressing it down 

 nearly perpendicularly ; then throw out the soil to one 

 side, making a trench, as shown in figure 51, Place the 

 juttings against the perpendicular side of the trench, as 



