30 



PROPAGATION OF VARIETIES. 



plant. Every bixd being a distinct individual, capable of forming a new 

 plant, has indeed theoretically the power, if separated from the parent 

 stem, of throwing out roots and maintaining a separate existence ; and 

 some plants, as tlie grape-vine, are frequently propagated by single buds 

 planted in the soil. But in practice it is found necessary, with almost 

 all trees and plants, to retain a considerable portion of the stem vnih the 

 bud, to supply it with food until it has formed roots to draw nourish- 

 ment from the soil. 



All fruit-trees may be propagated by cuttings, with proper care and 

 attention, but only a few grow with sufficient facility in this way to 

 render their propagation by cuttings a common mode. These are the 

 Gooseberry, the Currant, the Vine, the Quince, the Fig, and the Mulberry. 

 Cuttings of the Currant, Gooseberry, and the hardy sorts of Yine 

 ■^'ill root readily, in a soil not too dry, in the open garden. Cun-ants 

 and Gooseberries are generally taken oil' in the fall or winter, j^repared 

 for planting, and two-thirds of their lower ends buried in the gi'ound till 

 the commencement of spring, when they are planted out, either where 

 they are to remain or in nursery i-ows. They will succeed nearly as 

 well if taken off in the sj^ring, but, owing to the period at which they 

 commence growing, this must be attended to very early, if deferred till 

 that season. 



A successful practice is to prepare the cuttings of Gooseberries and 

 Currants early in the autumn, and to plant them at once in the position 

 where they are to grow the succeeding summer. In planting, set the 

 cuttings into the ground so deeply that but one bud will be left at or 

 near the surface, and then, as soon as the frosts of winter come, cover 

 the whole ground with a light mulch of coarse straw manure, or other 

 litter three or four inches deep. 



In order to raise plants of the Gooseberry and Currant, 

 with straight clean stems, which shall not throw up suckers, 

 it is only necessary, before planting the cutting, to cut out 

 every eye or bud to be placed below the surface of the 

 ground, Fig. 18. The cutting shoiild be about a foot long, 

 eight inches of wliich may be inserted in the ground. To 

 insure greater success in raising the finer sorts of Gooseberry, 

 or other shrubs, it is customary to plant the cuttings on 

 the shaded side of a wall or fence, in deep rich loam, rather 

 damp than dry. Cuttings of the vine are generally prepared 

 when trimming the old plants in autumn or winter ; they 

 may then be buried with their lower ends in the ground, 

 or kept in earth in the cellar till spring. 



Grape cuttings are also made as soon as it will answer 

 to prune the vines in the autumn ; and, being planted at 

 once in the ground, covered as above noted for Gooseberries 

 and Currants, are found to grow successfully. 



Scarce sorts of grapes, which it is desirable to multiply 

 extensively, are frequently propagated by joints : that is, by 

 buds having about two inches of wood attached to each — 

 every bud in this way forming a plant. ^Yhen this mode 

 is adopted, it is usual to plant the joints aboiit half an inch 

 deep, in light soil, in a common hot-bed prepared for the 

 purpose, or each joint is planted in a pot by itself. In the first way 

 a great number of plants may be grown in a small space. 



«W=^t! 



Gooseberry 

 cutting pre- 

 pared and 

 ])lanted. 



