303 PPOPAGATTON OF PLANTS. 



Vaccinium (Cranberry, Huckleberry, Blueberry, Etc.) A large 

 genus of hardy, upright-growing shrubs, or low, trailing vines. A few 

 are evergreen, but they are mostly deciduous, and the larger number 

 natives of North America.*- The low, trailing Cranberries, V. Oxycoccus 

 and V. macrocarpon especially the latter and its many varieties are 

 extensively cultivated, growing freely in low bogs and swamps, and the 

 fruit is well known in our markets. They are readily propagated by 

 cuttings planted in wet soils. But the Huckleberries and Blueberries 

 are rarely cultivated, although there is really no good reason why they 

 should not be, for the plants thrive on almost any light soil, and even 

 those species which naturally grow in swamps and peat bogs will thrive 

 on high and dry soils, provided they are light and sandy. The shrubby 

 species are propagated by seeds and layers. The seeds being very small, 

 they should be sown in shallow boxes filled with vegetable mold and 

 eand, and but lightly covered with fine shreds of moss from the swamps, 

 and this kept constantly saturated with water, until the plants appear, 

 after which only water sufficient to keep the soil moderately wet need be 

 applied, 



Viburnum (Arrow-Wood, Cranberry Tree). A large genus of ele- 

 gant ornamental shrubs, a few bearing edible but not very highly prized 

 fruit. The common Snowball tree is only a variety of the wild Cran- 

 berry tree (V. Opulus) of the swamps of our Northern States and 

 Great Britain. The Chinese Snowball ( V. plicatum) is a more recent 

 introduction, and even more highly prized than the older favorite. 

 Propagated by layers ; some of the species by cuttings of the mature 

 wood ; others, like the Chinese Snowball, by cuttings of the young, im- 

 mature shoots taken off with a heel and planted in sand under glass. 



Vitex (Chaste Tree). A genus of tropical and sub-tropical evergreen 

 and deciduous shrubs and trees. They are rarely seen in cultivation, 

 although the Chaste tree ( V. Agnus- Castus) from Southern Europe, is 

 sometimes found in old gardens in the North, but more common South. 

 The Chinese Cut-leaved Chaste tree is also occasionally cultivated, and 

 is very nearly hardy in the latitude of New York City. Propagated by 

 layers, or ripe wood cuttings planted in a sheltered position m autumn. 



Vttts (Grape). An important genus of climbing shrubs, bearing 

 edible fruit in clusters. The number of species undetermined, as the 

 opinions of botanists differ in regard to the value of the variable specific 

 characteristics for the purposes of classification. The European varie- 

 ties of the grape are supposed to have descended from one species viz., 

 V. vinifera and the cultivated American varieties from several indige- 

 nous epecies, through natural variations, or by crossing and hybridizing 

 under domestication. There are also hybrids between the European 

 and American species, and various grades of intermixtures of species 

 and varieties. Propagation by seeds is mostly practiced for the purpose 

 of producing new varieties which is not at all difficult from any of the 

 improved cultivated varieties. Seeds from black varieties like the Con- 



