SECT. V. OF PROPAGATION. 



but their sap must be of a watery nature, as those 

 plants that are gummy will hardly be brought to 

 strike, though ever so much care is bestowed, or time 

 allowed them. The texture of the wood of cutt- 

 ings must be somewhat soft, as hard wooded ones 

 will not grow; let them be rather short than long, 

 and kept steady in the ground. If they are planted 

 where there is any likelihood of their being dis- 

 turbed, they may be tied to a stick, well fastened in 

 the earth. 



The season for setting slips and cuttings is for 

 some things summer, as wall-flowers and foyrtks ; 

 and for most, from October to March, but (in ge- 

 neral) the sooner the better. It has. however been 

 said, that spring is the best time for all, and that the 

 sap should be in motion first. This is at least true 

 of some things, as cuttings of the vitex, or chaste 

 tree, (though hardy) are found to do best in spring ; 

 and all cuttings from plants of a delicate nature 

 do so. 



Cuttings should be of well ripened wood, and 

 have the earth moderately pressed to them, the whole 

 length that they are in the ground ; i. e. from four 

 to six inches. Cut them with a sharp knife slope- 

 wise, and plant in a good soil, and in a situation 

 where they only have the morning sun ; and keep 

 them cool (not wet) by occasional watering or 

 shade, in sunny weather. 



Laying of branches is a mode of propagation, 

 that may be adopted for almost all forest trees, and 

 several sorts of fruit trees and shrubs ; i. e. all that 

 will grow from cuttings, and many that will not. 

 Layers are less rampant, and more fruitful than 

 suckers ; and " those who are curious, and find a 

 seminal variety of any tree, or shrub, that is re- 

 markably different from the original, the only way to 

 have it preserved genuine is to convert it into a s 



