Ill 



PREFACE 



"\V7ITHIN the last few years so many discoveries 

 ^^/ of new facts have been made by plant investi- 

 gators, so many short-cuts and "wrinkles" worked 

 out by plant propagators, and so many nursery, green- 

 house and garden methods simplified or made more effec- 

 tive, that books hitherto available on plant propagation 

 are now out of date. Nurserymen and other propagators 

 who have not been able to keep their eyes upon the 

 whole field have been calling for a book which will give 

 them the best of these methods and "wrinkles" in the 

 comparatively small compass of a single volume. 



At the same time there has been a more and more 

 insistent call for a volume that will not only include the 

 character of information called for by nurserymen and 

 other plant propagators, but also discuss the subject of 

 plant propagation from the standpoint of fundamental 

 principles and include the latest conclusions advanced by 

 investigators throughout the world. 



With these two main objects in view the author has 

 brought together the latest information on all branches of 

 practical and theoretical plant propagation so as to make 

 a volume that will appeal with equal force to the pro- 

 fessional propagator and to the teacher of plant propaga- 

 tion in agricultural colleges and schools at home and 

 abroad. The former will be most attracted by the new 

 methods and short cuts which will make for efficiency ; 

 the latter will appreciate the convenience of arrangement, 

 the numerous illustrations and the large list of suggested 

 practicums (page 292). To professional propagator, 

 teacher and amateur the plant lists and condensed rules 

 for propagation will also be specially interesting. 



Literature of propagation is abundant, though much 



