SECTION VII. HOW PLANTS ARE 

 PROPAGATED 



MOST of our field crops are increased or propagated by 

 means of seed. One plant, because of the seeds it forms, 

 may become the parent of hundreds or of thousands of 

 others of the same kind. This method of increasing 

 plants is well understood. 



There are some plants the seed of which must be sown 

 every year, for example, oats and corn. These are called 

 annuals, because they live during only one growing 

 season. Plants that live two years are known as biennials. 

 A third class consists of the/rmwftt/r, that is, plants ttiat 

 live for more than two years. Bermuda grass, alfalfa, 

 and all trees are examples of perennial plants. 



Most cultivated plants, including the perennials, develop 

 from seeds. With most fruit trees and with many other 

 plants, it is best to provide for the increase by budding, 

 grafting, and the like. These and other methods of multi- 

 plying plants without the use of seeds are called propaga- 

 tion by division. 



Some plants propagated by buds. Did you ever see 

 seeds on sugar cane or sweet potatoes? In tropical 

 countries these plants make seed, but not usually in our 

 country. Since these plants as a rule form no seed here, 



38 



