CHAPTER IX 

 PLANT REPRODUCTION 



THE three principal ways in which florists' plants may 

 be propagated are : by seeds, by cuttings and by graft- 

 ing. There are various modifications of these, such as 

 leaf cuttings, budding, inarching and layering, but they 

 are rarely practical under glass. 



SEED REPRODUCTION 



The chief function of a plant is to multiply its species, 

 and as a rule, when it has accomplished this purpose, it 

 dies. Reproduction of a species is in a large measure de- 

 pendent on the production of flowers and the resulting 

 seeds. Natural reproduction is, for the most part, con- 

 fined to this process. 



Seed reproduction is an exhaustive process to members of 

 the vegetable kingdom. As has been stated, many plants 

 die after it has been accomplished, and in all cases, seed 

 reproduction is detrimental to the vigor of the plants. 

 Therefore, the problem of the flower-grower is to prevent 

 seed formation, and still to foster irr every way possible, 

 the production of flowers, while maintaining strong, vig- 

 orous plants. This is essential so that the taking of cut- 

 tings and other asexual methods of reproduction may be 

 practiced without detriment to either the parent plant or 

 the offspring. 



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