IO6 PLANT PROPAGATION 



part is cut off. Lateral buds are situated on the sides of 

 branches, usually in the axils of the leaves. A terminal 

 bud is situated at the extremity of a branch or stem. 

 Usually only one is in this position, but sometimes (lilac) 

 there are two or even more. Axillary buds are produced 

 in the axils of leaves. 



155. Roots on stem cuttings form on the end normally 

 nearest the root of the parent plant. Stems appear on 

 the other end. Botanists call this phenomenon polarity. 

 With root cuttings the plan holds good; the end nor- 

 mally nearest the top of the plant will produce a stem, 

 and that farthest away, roots. Some species may be com- 

 pelled to take root when reversed but growth is puny 

 and of short life. If horse-radish cuttings are inverted, 

 they will start late, roots from the "root" end and stems 

 from the "stem" end, but the resulting roots will be 

 small, irregular and unsalable. Hence horse-radish 

 growers generally cut the upper ends of their cuttings 

 square across, and the lower ends oblique so the planters 

 may see which end should be placed uppermost. 



156. Shipping cuttings and plants. Plants require fresh 

 air just as animals do. If seeds, bulbs and plants are 

 packed moist in air-tight boxes, they may be asphyxiated 

 or may perish through putrefaction. Growing plants will 

 live a considerable time without light if they can get 

 fresh air and if light and air are good they will stand a 

 rather wide range of temperature. The best method to 

 pack many plants is to knock them out of their pots and 

 roll the earth balls in oiled paper, tied above and below. 

 They may then be packed tightly and upright with a lit- 

 tle wet moss between the balls in wooden boxes deep 

 enough to protect the tops. Across the tops of the balls 

 between the rows, strips of batten should be placed and 

 nailed through the sides of the boxes. Perforated zinc on 

 top of the boxes held down by battens may be placed 

 for long-distance shipments. Finally the boxes should 

 be labeled "Living plants, Keep cool. This side up." 



