206 PRACTICAL PLANT PROPAGATION 



PHILADELPHIA. (Erroneously caUed Syringa). Mock Orange. 

 SEEDS. Often self sow. May be sown in Spring. 

 CUTTINGS. Make from hard wood in Autumn; set in Spring for P. 

 coronaria and P. grandiflora. Soft wood for Lemoine's varieties 

 - and yellow leaved sorts. 



PHORADENDRON. Mistletoe. 

 SEEDS. Joseph Meehan writes: 



"It takes patience to increase the Mistletoe, but those who wish to 

 try it may proceed thus: Take the berries and press them to a branch, 

 the under side preferred, until they burst. They are so viscid that they 

 will adhere to the bark, but that birds shall not disturb them, tie them 

 fast with a piece of muslin. Do not be impatient to see the plants, for 

 nothing will be seen for a year, and then only a swelling of the bark. 

 But this swelling indicates that all is well, and the next season some 

 growth may be expected. There is a difference of opinion as to the 

 cutting of a notch in the bark to hold the berries. Late authorities say 

 it is better not to do so. The natural way finds no slit bark, and with 

 the bandage of muslin to hold the seed in place, there can be no neces- 

 sity for notching the branch. 



"The Mistletoe is a parasite, living off the juices of the trees it attaches 

 itself to. There are two sorts that come to our markets; the old 

 Mistletoe of Europe and that of our own country. The European one 

 is Viscum album, ours, Phoradendron flavescens, both being of the 

 same general character. 



"In Europe its host trees are generally the Apple, Poplar, Hawthorn, 

 Linden, Maple and Mountain Ash; rarely the Oak. In our country 

 it is found on Oaks, Elms, Apples, Locust, Hickories, etc.; and it is 

 always interesting wherever found growing." 



PHOTINIA. Chinese Christmas Berry. 

 SEEDS. Stratify. 

 CUTTINGS. Ripened wood. 



LAYERS. Roots readily from layers covered in Spring. 

 GRAFTING. Worked on Hawthorn, Apple roots or Quince stock. 



PHYSIANTHUS. 



CUTTINGS. Made in late Winter. 



PHYSOCARPUS. Ninebark. 

 SEEDS. 

 CUTTINGS. Hard wood or green wood. 



PICEA. Spruce. 



SEEDS. Keep dry and cool through the Winter. Sow in Spring. In 

 raising seedlings of Picea pungens, the Colorado Blue Spruce, 

 many of the plants are not of the desired deep blue. These must 

 be discarded because even from the best plants the seed does not 

 come perfectly true. 



CUTTINGS. The dwarf forms are especially easily grown from 

 cuttings. 



GRAFTING. Seedlings of the Norway Spruce, P. excelsa, make the 

 best stocks because of their adaptability to soils, hardiness and 

 good growth. Veneer grafting in Spring or August in the greenhouse. 



INARCHING. Seedlings of P. pungens are potted and plunged in the 

 soil at base of growing Roster's Blue Spruces. The seedlings can 

 then be marched by the tongue inarch (see p. 125) and tied with 

 raffia. Do this in Summer. 



