76 



PRACTICAL PLANT PROPAGATION 



right kind of sand will settle to the bottom of the glass without 

 causing the slightest cloudiness in the water. 



Cutting the wood. The usual time for cutting the wood for mak- 

 ing into cuttings is in the Autumn when the growth is well ripened. 

 It is well to wait until several good sharp frosts assure you that the 

 wood is in a perfect state of maturity. Small branches are cut, 

 using only the strong, vigorous shoots from the sides near the top 

 of the plant. If the variety is a strong grower each branch cut will 

 produce, when properly divided, several desirable cuttings. Do 

 not cut the wood when it is in a frozen condition. Place the clip- 

 pings in a basket or bag 

 as soon as they are cut, 

 to prevent their drying. 

 Making the cuttings. 

 With nearly all varieties 

 of conifers, in making 

 cuttings, use only wood 

 of the past Summer's 

 growth. It does not 

 matter whether it is a 

 leader or side branch, 

 just so it is firm and 

 well matured. Remove 

 all of the foliage from 

 the sides of the cutting, 

 leaving only a small 

 amount at the top. 

 Make the cuttings of a 

 uniform length by cut- 

 ting the bottom end of 

 the stem with a light, 

 sharp knife.* Cuttings 

 of uneven length must 

 never be planted in the 

 same flat because the 

 smaller ones do not re- 

 ceive the same light and 

 air as the longer ones 

 and are consequently 

 smothered. 



Fig. 23. A mallet cutting. In making the mallet 

 cutting a piece of the entire stem of the parent 

 plant is left at the base. This mallet is a store- 

 house of food; such cuttings often root when the 

 simple cutting does not (see page 74) 



* Cuttings range in length from 3 inches to 8 inches long. They are often merely 

 pulled off with a heel which is then trimmed with a knife. 



