CHAPTER VL 



PROPAGATION. 



Trees are Grown from Seeds or by Division. The latter 

 term includes increase by cuttings, layers, buds and grafts. 

 Plants grown from seeds are generally more vigorous and 

 longer lived than those of the same species propagated in any 

 other way. Trees should be grown from seeds when it is prac- 

 ticable to do so, but willows and some other trees are apparent 

 exceptions to this rule and seem to do as well when grown from 

 cuttings as when grown from seeds. Varieties do not generally 

 perpetuate their peculiar characteristics when grown from seeds, 

 and must therefore be propagated by some method of division. 



The Most Desirable Trees from Which to Propagate 

 are those of good form and healthy growth; the latter is the one 

 most important requisite, especially if new plants are to be 

 grown by any method of division. It is not so essential in 

 selecting seeds, as even weak plants may produce good seed- 

 lings, but unhealthy cuttings, layers or grafts are of very uncer- 

 tain growth. In general, it is best that the stock trees be 

 healthy throughout, but a tree may have a rotten trunk due to 

 some injury and still have perfectly healthy branches and be a 

 desirable tree from which to propagate. 



SEEDS. 



Sources of Seeds. In growing trees from seeds the 

 source of the seeds is very important. It may be given as a 

 safe general rule that seeds are most desirable which come from 

 trees grown in as severe a climate as that in which the seeds are 

 to be sown. It has been found that trees of Boxelder and Red 

 Cedar grown from seeds gathered in Missouri are not nearly so 

 lianly in this section as those from seeds grown in our own state. 

 It lias also been found that seeds from the western slopes of the 

 Rocky Mountains, where the climate is very humid, produce 

 trees which are not so well adapted to withstanding the condi- 



