HORTICULTURE 155 



ciety will not thereafter be recognized as such, so far as subsequent 

 reports are concerned. (U. S. E. S. B. 178.) 



PROPAGATION OF FRUIT PLANTS. 



With a few unimportant exceptions the cultivated fruits do not 

 come true from seed, and hence other methods have been devised for 

 their propagation, (a) The seed is used in growing stocks upon 

 which to work such fruits as apples, pears, plums, peaches, etc. (6) 

 The seed is also used in growing the varieties of plums, peaches, and 

 strawberries that usually come true from seed, such as the Alpine 

 and St. Anthony de Padua strawberry, the Wyant plum, and a num- 

 ber of local varieties of peach. 



Germination. Some of the conditions that influence the germi- 

 nation of seeds are as follows: (a) Seeds that ripen in the early 

 summer, such as those of the strawberry, gooseberry, and raspberry, 

 if sown at once will germinate quickly. Seedlings of such kinds 

 should be wintered over in a cold frame, greenhouse, or cold cellar. 

 If the seed is dried, it should be stratified over winter and be sown 

 in the spring. (6) Seeds that ripen in the late summer should be 

 stratified and sown in the late spring, (c) Stratification is the mix- 

 ing of seeds with soil or other material and burying out of doors. 

 It is a common and very satisfactory way of keeping the seeds of 

 peaches, plums, apricots, and various kinds of nuts over winter. All 

 of the hardy seeds may be treated in this way successfully. Apple 

 seed is generally dried during winter and moistened and frozen in the 

 spring before sowing, but may be stored by stratification with best 

 results. 



The strawberry and red raspberry, American plum, Morello 

 cherry, and some other fruits, may be propagated by planting the 

 sprouts that come up from the roots. Such sprouts are termed "off- 

 sets." Suckers for planting are best removed in autumn or in the 

 spring. (U. S. E. S. B. 178.) 



Propagation by Cuttings. Cuttings are portions of a plant re- 

 moved for rooting and which develop into independent plants, (a) 

 Cuttings may be made of the ripened wood of the branches in the case 

 of the gooseberry, currant, grape, quince, and the Kieffer pear. (6) 

 Cuttings may be made from roots as in case of the red raspberry, 

 blackberry, and some kinds of cherries and plums, (c) Cuttings 

 may be made from the soft summer growth of the grape, currant, and 

 gooseberry. In the case of the strawberry, they may be made from 

 the immature offsets. Soft wood cuttings need a frame or greenhouse 

 for securing best results. 



Size of Cuttings. (a) The size of cuttings varies greatly. A 

 single bud in each cutting is all that is required, provided the cut- 

 ting is properly cared for. One-bud cuttings are frequently used in 

 propagating the currant and grape. Both require the best of atten- 

 tion. (6) Cuttings with several buds increase their chances of liv- 

 ing and encourage strong growth. 



Conditions Necessary for the Successful Growing of Hardwood 

 Cuttings. For hardwood cuttings the wood should be well matured 

 and firm. The wood should preferably be made up into cuttings in 



