MODES AND PRINCIPLES OF PROPAGATION. 43 



justed locally aiid there will be less demand for European 

 seeds. That the subject of hardier stocks is important is 

 shown by the fact that in the winter of 1898-99 tens of 

 thousands of bearing fruit-trees were root-killed as far 

 south as Missouri, with no trace of injury in the tops. As 

 the years go 011 the commercial prejudice against the prop- 

 agation of trees on their own roots will be a thing of the 

 past. 



Our grapes, small fruits, and nearly all our ornamental 

 trees and shrubs are now on their own roots, and Nature 

 has made it possible to grow all the orchard fruits of the 

 north temperate zone from cuttings of the surface roots. 



48. Propagation by Seeds. As what might be called the 

 foundation of horticulture, the leading facts were given 

 relative to the handling, care of, and planting of seeds in 

 the first chapter. In this connection it is only necessary 

 to state that seedling production is only practised in horti- 

 culture and forestry where exact reproduction is not 

 required, such as garden seeds, flowers, nursery fruit 

 stocks, forest- and shade-trees, and last but not least, in 

 starting new varieties from crossed seeds or seeds from 

 selected plants. But in this case each individual plant 

 found worthy of attention must be propagated later by 

 division of the root or top. 



49. Propagation by Suckers. About all the orchard 

 fruits of the temperate zone throw up suckers from the 

 surface-roots, especially if wounded by the plow or spade. 

 Popularly they are called sprouts, but these more properly 

 are the shoots that come from the crown and not from the 

 surface-roots. 



Over Europe these suckers are taken up, sorted as to 

 size, and the grades planted separately in nursery. After 

 standing in nursery from one to three years, depending 

 on size, and shaped by pruning, they are ready for orchard 



