CUTTINGS, OR SLIPS. 95 



symptoms of inflammation or febrile excitement had ceased. 

 It has been strikingly remedial in the low states of typhoid 

 and bilious fever. The late Capt. Gilchrist, who for several 

 years followed the Batavia trade, and who had always suf- 

 fered an attack of the severe cholera, which proves so 

 destructive of human life in that climate, used to say that 

 after he had this wine with him, and took two glasses of it 

 every morning, he escaped the disease. On one voyage, his 

 mate, who had not taken the wine, was seized with this 

 complaint, when a bottle or two stopped its progress. We 

 have not room to enumerate many other morbid affections, 

 in which this wine has proved useful. In sore throat it has, 

 for many years, been considered almost a specific reme 

 dy." 



" CUTTINGS, or SLIPS. The branches, twigs or slips 

 of plants, shrubs or trees, may, sometimes successfully, be 

 cut off, and set in the ground to take root and grow. The 

 best time for this operation is from the middle of August 

 to the middle of April ; but when it is done, the sap ought 

 not to be too much in the top ; neither must it be very dry 

 or scanty, for the sap in the branches assists it to take root. 



When you intend to propagate trees for timber, or for a 

 tall, stately growth, be very particular never to take the 

 cuttings from horizontal branches, for they will ever have 

 an inclination to grow in a spreading manner ; always make 

 choice of perpendicular shoots, and particularly those that 

 terminate the branches ; these will produce the straightes* 

 trees. 



The power of protruding buds or roots resides chiefly at 

 the joints, or those parts where leaves or buds already ex- 

 ist. Cuttings should, therefore, be cut smoothly across at 

 an eye or joint. This cutting ought to be made in the 

 wood of the growth of the preceding season, or in the 

 point between the two growths. It is a common practice 

 to cut off the whole or part of the leaves of cuttings, which 

 Loudon says is attended with bad effects. 



" Cuttings which are difficult to strike may be rendered 

 more tractable by previous ringing; if a ring be made on the 

 shoot which is to furnish the cutting, a callus will be created, 

 which, if inserted in the ground after the cutting is taken 

 off, will freely emit roots. A ligature would, perhaps, 

 operate in a similar manner, though not so efficiently ; it 

 should lightly encircle the shoot destined for a cutting, and 

 the latter should be taken off when an accumulation of sap 

 has apparently been produced. The amputation in the case 



