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 Arc./,. 



PREFACE 



BOOK of this kind necessarily is a record of various 

 opinions covering the ways of propagating plants. It 

 is not a report of a discovery or discoveries, but a com- 

 pilation of methods. Men have come to realize that every 

 advancement in the art or science of doing things is not only for 

 the benefit of themselves but for the good of all men. 



Each book considers the subject matter from a different angle. 

 This book attempts to briefly explain the art and science of in- 

 creasing plants so that the florist, orchardist, nurseryman, and 

 amateur plant lover may have a guide in the work of properly 

 increasing his stock. 



"There is no reason why every farmer, if he so desires, may not 

 propagate all the fruits necessary for his own garden and orchard," 

 writes W. L. Howard. "Such work can be done at little or no 

 expense and, besides, it is pleasant and interesting." 



The author acknowledges credit to all who, through their wide 

 experience, have written of plant propagation, and especially to 

 Joseph Meehan* and George W. Oliver,* both pre-eminent in 

 their fields of nursery and greenhouse propagation. Credit is due 

 Dr. L. H. Bailey for crystallizing the scattered information and 

 publishing it in the "Nursery Book" of 1891. 



The author welcomes suggestions and advice relating to the 

 subject matter of this book to the end that when a new edition 

 becomes necessary it may have increased value. 



ALFRED G. HOTTES. 

 Columbus, Ohio. 



*Deceased 



412 



