22 SMAJX FRUIT CULTURIST. 



BY SUCKERS. The Barberry throws up a great quantity 

 of suckers, chiefly from the main stem. Roots are produced 

 on the base of these suckers. Consequently they may be 

 separated from the eld plant whenever it is desirable to in- 

 crease the number of plants. 



BY CUTTINGS. Cuttings of the ripe wood do not grow as 

 readily as with some other plants ; still, with a little care, 



they may be made to succeed. Select one or two year old 



wood in the fall, and before it has been severely frozen, and 

 cut it into lengths of six or eight inches, cutting the lower 

 end square across and just below a bud. Make them with 

 a sharp knife, so that the wood shall not be crushed, but 

 cut smoothly. After the cuttings are made, bury them in 

 a dry place in the open ground, and cover so deeply that 

 the frost will not reach them. They should not be tied in 

 bundles, as is sometimes recommended for cuttings, but be 

 placed in alternate layers of soil and cuttings. In the 

 spring they should be taken out and planted, placing them 

 about three inches apart in the rows, covering all but one 

 or two inches of the upper end. Pack the soil firmly 

 around them, and either hoe often or cover the entire sur- 

 face of the soil with mulch. As the same general system 

 is followed for all ripe wood cuttings which are grown in 

 the open ground, I will here state the method which I 

 practice not only with the Barberry, but with the Currant, 

 Gooseberry, and all similar plants, that I shall have oc- 

 casion to mention in future chapters. When the cuttings 

 are prepared, select a dry place, and dig a trench one spade 

 deep, in shape like a letter Y ; place a layer of cuttings on 

 one side, then throw enough soil from the other side to 

 cover them about an inch deep. Then place another layer 

 of cuttings against this soil, keeping the trench in the same 

 shape as it was when begun, cover the next layer in the 

 same manner, and so on until the cuttings are all in ; then 

 bank over with earth and smooth the surface so that the 

 water will readily run oif. 



