HEEL CUTTINGS 121 



Figs. Seed from commercial figs can be germinated only 

 with great difficulty even under the best greenhouse condi- 

 tions. They are, however, easily propagated from cuttings. 

 These are ordinarily made about ten inches in length, 

 using wood that calipers from three-eighths to three- 

 quarters of an inch in diameter. The bottom end is cut 

 close tp a bud as in the grape. In fact it should be cut 

 right into the wood partition, so that there is no pith 

 cavity left at the bottom end of the cutting. In the warmer 

 parts of the United States where figs are commonly grown 

 the cuttings can best be made in January or February. 

 They are tied into bundles and placed in the callusing 

 bed bottom end up. The ends soon heal over and by the 

 latter part of March they can be transplanted in the nur- 

 sery row. Sufficient moisture should be provided that they 

 will not dry out during the summer. 



The other fruits that are sometimes propagated by means 

 of the simple cutting are the mulberry, quince, pomegran- 

 ate, currant, gooseberry and occasionally the apple and 

 some of the citrus fruits. The treatment for all of these 

 is very much the same; the cutting is made when the wood 

 is dormant, or as near as may be, placed in the callusing 

 bed in the fall to heal over and then removed to the nur- 

 sery row. In the warmer parts of the country where the 

 falls are late and the fruit wood matures early it is best to 

 remove the cuttings from the callusing bed and set in the 

 nursery before very cold weather. In the colder states 

 they are better left in the beds over winter and set in the 

 nursery in the spring. 



Heel Cuttings. It sometimes happens that the 



