.182 PROPAGATION" OF PLANTS. 



in which to pack away cions, roots or cuttings of any 

 kind, whether they are to be preserved for a few days or 

 for months. 



The next best material for this purpose is clean, sharp 

 sand, and it is more generally used, probably, because 

 very abundant, and less labor is required in packing away 

 as well as removing the cutting, than when moss is used. 

 Ordinary soil, if of a rather light, sandy nature, will 

 answer very well as a material in which to store cuttings, 

 but either moss or sand is better. 



In making cuttings of the roots of such hardy plants 

 as the Easpberry, Blackberry, Juneberry, and various 

 ornamental shrubs and trees that are usually propagated 

 by this mode, the roots should be taken up as soon as the 

 plants have ceased growing in the fall, and.cut into pieces 

 of from one to three inches in length, but in some coarse- 

 growing kinds, such as the Paulowuia, they may be a little 

 longer. Then prepare some boxes, by boring holes .in the 

 bottom to insure good drainage, and place a layer of moss 

 or hay over the holes, and if sand is used for packing, 

 spread on an inch or two in depth and over this a layer of 

 the cuttings, then another thin layer of sand, and so on, 

 until the box is full. When moss is used as a packing 

 material, proceed in the same way as with sand. If a dry 

 place can be secured in the open ground, the box contain- 

 ing the cuttings may be buried there and then covered 

 with sufficient earth to prevent severe freezing during 

 the winter. A little freezing will not injure the cuttings 

 of hardy plants, though it may retard the production of 

 buds and new roots ; but a cool cellar is the best place in 

 which to keep root-cuttings, because it will be a conven- 

 ient place for examination from time to time, and their 

 condition be ascertained as often as necessary. The 

 greatest danger to be guarded against when cuttings are 

 stored in a cellar is high temperature, which may fon:e 

 them into growth before the time arrives for planting 



