52 



PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



The cuttings should be of good size, that is from three 

 to four inches long, and the leaves on the lower half cut 

 away, and the lower end of the cuttings made smooth, a 

 sharp knife always being used for this purpose. Fig. 18 

 shows a cutting of arbor-vitas prepared for planting, 

 and fig. 10 one of the Lawson cypress {Cupressus Law- 

 soniana). Sand is usually preferred to soil in which to 

 rear cuttings of evergreens, and it may be put in boxes 



of convenient size for 

 handling, or in larger 

 frames or on benches 

 fitted up for the pur- 

 pose, but boxes will 

 usually be found most 

 convenient, as it enables 

 the operator to change 

 his cuttings from one 

 place to another, should 

 it be found necessary to 

 secure a proper tem- 

 perature. The boxes 

 used may be four or 

 five inches deep, and 

 eigbteen inches or two 

 feet square, and when 

 filled with moist, sharp 

 sand, they are ready for 

 use. To make a channel in which to set the cuttings, use 

 the edge of a pane of window glass, sinking it to the proper 

 depth in the sand, and straight across one side of the box. 

 Set the cuttings in this close together, until it is filled, 

 press down the sand firmly against them, and then make 

 another crease in the sand, about two inches distant from 

 the first, and proceed in this manner iintil the box is 

 full. Apply water to further settle the sand about the 

 cuttings, then place the boxes in the shade until roots are 



18. — \RBOR-VIT^ CUTTING. 



