CUTTINGS IN OPEN 



51 



ous lengths, from four inches to two feet. I much prefer 

 a short cutting to a long one. A cutting of six or eight 

 inches in length, when properly planted, will make as good 

 if not a better plant than one of twice that length. 



The following is the method that I 

 practice, believing it to be the best. 

 About the last of November, or the first 

 of December, I select the wood for cut- 

 tings, and with a pair of garden shears 

 cut it up into lengths of about six inches, 

 leaving not less than two buds upon the 

 cutting. If the wood is very short-joint- 

 ed, a cutting of this length will have 

 three or four buds upon it ; if so they are 

 all the better, as roots usually start from 

 each bud, but are seldom emitted the first 

 season, in cuttings grown in the open 

 ground, from the stem between the buds. 



With a sharp knife smooth off the 

 wood close up to the base of the lower 

 bud, and cut off the top end about an 

 inch above the bud, at an inclination as 

 shown in Fig. 14, which gives the form 

 of a two-bud cutting. 



A three-bud cutting is the same, with 

 an additional bud between the two. 



When the cuttings are all prepared, 

 they should be put away in the ground 

 where they will not be frozen or become 

 too wet. I usually set them thickly in a 

 shallow trench, then cover them up, leav- 

 ing the top bud just above ground, after 

 which cover all up with straw to keep 

 out the frost. So soon as the ground is 

 settled in spring, fork over the cutting- 

 bed, rake it level and smooth, then draw Fig. u. 



