BARBERRY. 23 



In the spring, prepare a bed for the cuttings by digging 

 or plowing deeply, and enriching with well rotted manure. 

 Harrow or rake the surface level and smooth ; then draw 

 a line across the bed, and dig a trench by placing the back 

 of the spade against the line, pressing it down perpendicu- 

 larly ; then throw out the soil to one side, making a trench 

 of the shape shown in figure I. Place the cuttings against 



the perpendicular side of the 

 trench, two to four inches 

 apart, and the upper end an 

 inch or two above the surface 

 of the soil. Draw in a little 

 soil, and press it down firmly 

 with the foot, or with an in- 

 Fig. 1. CUTTING TRENCH. strument made from a piece of 

 two inch plank, as shown in figure 2. After the earth has 

 been packed firmly about the base of the cutting, the 

 trench may be filled up level with the surrounding soil. 

 With many kinds of plants the packing of the 

 soil around the lower end of the cuttings is a 

 very essential point, and often the whole secret 

 of success. This is particularly so with those 

 kinds that produce roots mainly from the lower 

 end, where the wood is exposed to the soil. The 

 distance between the rows will depend entirely 

 upon the manner in which they are to be culti- 

 vated. If a cultivator is to be used, then they 

 should be two and a half or three feet apart ; 

 but where they are to be cultivated with the 

 hoe one and a half to two feet will be sufficient. 

 In some soils and locations the plants raised 

 from cuttings may be left in the ground where Fig * 2 ' 

 they are grown until the following spring, and then trans- 

 planted ; but the safest plan is to take them up in the fall, be- 

 cause in some soils they will be thrown out by the frost, un- 

 less they have a larger quantity of roots than is usual. 



