CH. IV 



NURSERIES 145 



dulce, are raised in this manner ; others, such as various 

 species of Erythrina, are used for nurses, and the same 

 or Jatropha Curcas or the Milk-hedge (Euphorbia 

 Tirucalli) serve for live hedges, while the Ceara-rubber 

 tree (Manihot Glaziovii) can also be raised in this way. 

 Some of the Burseraceae, such as Balsamodendron and 

 Boswellia, and several species of Ficus also spring 

 readily from cuttings. 



Some of these species will begin to sprout even 

 when the cuttings are put in in the shape of large 

 posts, and these should be put into the field direct, 

 while others come up better from smaller and tenderer 

 shoots, which, however, should be well lignified and 

 healthy. The end to be put into the ground should be 

 cut clean with a slanting cut, in order to give a large 

 surface for absorbing moisture, while the upper end 

 should be cut off square, and may be covered with a cap 

 of clay to keep it live and moist. The cutting should 

 be put in in a slanting direction, so that the underground 

 portion may remain in the upper, better-aired layers of 

 the soil. If the soil is not soft, a hole should be first 

 made with a stake to prevent the bark being stripped 

 off by friction. About two or three buds may be kept 

 above the ground. It is best to cut off all the leaves 

 whether above or below the ground. After the cutting 

 is put in, the earth should be pressed home against 

 it, and it should be watered. Where white ants are 

 abundant, it is advantageous to raise cuttings in beds 

 with cement floors. 



Bamboos are sometimes raised from cuttings. These 

 are usually obtained from 



the lower nodes of culms / ^^^^?g fc. mmmmg - c =^^^. 

 which are more apt to pro- I Jh .. /jr. (Mi 



duce adventitious roots. One MS&igS^ ~" wm^0& 

 method, employed in Ceylon, fig. 45. 



consists of cutting off seg- 

 ments with a node at either end. A slit is made on one 

 side on the internode, presumably to admit moisture and 

 stimulate the production of adventitious roots (Fig. 45). 



L 



