102 HAND-BOOK OF TREE-PLANTING. 



perature in the seed-room. The bags, boxes, 

 or drawers should be closed, so as to avoid 

 too free an exposure to the atmosphere and 

 humidity." 



Cuttings. 



There is one method of propagating trees 

 of which we have as yet said nothing, that is 

 by cuttings. Many trees are so easily propa- 

 gated in this way, that it has been adopted 

 quite extensively. It consists, as most know, 

 in inserting in the ground pieces of well-grown 

 wood nearly to the extent of their whole length, 

 leaving only one or two joints or buds above- 

 ground. Most persons are aware that the wil- 

 lows, treated in this way, readily push out 

 roots and grow. But so will the cottonwoods, 

 the box-elder, the maples, the sycamore, and 

 many others. Prof. Budd, of Iowa, one of 

 our best authorities upon trees and tree-cult- 

 ure, speaks thus in regard to the treatment 

 of cuttings : " They should be cut early in 

 winter, before severe freezing, in lengths of 

 about one foot. They should be chosen from 

 three fourths of an inch to an inch and a half 



