Propagation by Cuttings. 213 



cuttings should be planted with the bud facing upward, 

 and one-half to three-fourths inch deep, in order that 

 the developing bud may readily reach the surface. Cut- 

 tings of more than one bud may be placed upright or 

 at an angle, at such a depth that the bud at the distal 

 end (115) is about on a level with the surface. In cut- 

 tings of shrubby plants desired to produce a single 

 stem, the central buds should be rubbed off before 

 planting, leaving but one or two buds at the distal end 

 (Fig. 97). 



376. Propagation from Cuttings of the Root. Plants 

 that naturally sucker from the root (347) and some 

 others may be propagated from short pieces of the root 

 (root cuttings'). For this purpose roots of about the 

 thickness of a lead-pencil are commonly cut into pieces 

 one to three inches long 

 (Fig. 100), as soon as growth 

 ceases in autumn, and packed 

 in boxes with alternate lay- 



FIG. 100. Root cutting of J 



blackberry. (After Bailey.) ers o f mo ist Sand Or mCSS. 



The boxes are preferably stored in a cool cellar where 

 they may be examined from time to time during win- 

 ter; the sand or moss should be moistened when it ap- 

 pears dry. Root cuttings of different varieties of the 

 same plant often require different degrees of tempera- 

 ture to induce the formation of callus and buds, hence 

 the boxes should be frequently examined, particularly 

 toward spring, in order that those in which the cut- 

 tings are backward in starting may be placed in a 

 higher temperature. Thus treated, root-cuttings of 

 many hardy plants, as the plum, raspberry, blackberry, 



