198 SMALL FRUIT CULTURIST. 



PROPAGATION BY CUTTINGS. Cuttings of the ripe wood 

 may be made at any time, from the falling of the leaf in 

 autumn until the plants commence growth in spring. 

 But when the best possible results are desired, they should 

 be taken off as soon as the wood is fully ripe. 



Select good strong wood of the present season's growth, 

 and make the cuttings about six inches long, cutting them 

 off smooth, just at the base of a bud. Figures 87 and 88 

 show two cuttings (much reduced in size) 

 as prepared for planting. Figure 81 is a 

 cutting of the common Black Currant, 

 and figure 82 a cutting of the Cherry 

 Currant. The first has much larger and 

 more prominent buds than the latter. 

 If all the buds, except two or three of 

 the upper ones, are cut out before setting, 

 the plant will not produce as many suck- 

 ers as though they were allowed to re- 

 main. The advisability of this plan will 

 depend entirely upon the manner in which 

 the plants are to be grown, whether in 

 tree or stool ; if in the former, disbud, if 

 not, plant them entire. 



When the cuttings are prepared, plant 

 as directed for other ripe wood cuttings, 

 in chapter 11. The cuttings should be 

 covered with straw or some similar ma- 

 terial, sufficient to keep out the frost, or, 

 Fig. 87. Fig. 88. at leagt ^ t(> prevent the grounc l f rom 



frequently freezing and thawing during winter. Re- 

 move the covering at the return of warm weather, or 

 enough of it to allow the young shoots to grow through 

 without hindrance. Cuttings planted early in fall will 

 usually become rooted by the time winter sets in, and 

 this too, without their buds pushing into leaf. The next 

 season they will make a far better growth than if their 



