336 THE COTTONWOODS 



should be cut on a warm day in the last of February or the 

 first of March. Early cutting is essential, for if the buds 

 have swelled or the leaves have started to grow, failure is 

 almost certain to result. Cut the shoots into lengths of eight 

 to ten inches, with a bud near the top end. That end may 

 be cut off square, but the other should be cut slanting, so as 

 to give as much length as possible for " callus " to develop, 

 for it is from this that the roots largely spring. Place 

 the cuttings, butts downward, in moist ground in a cool 

 cellar, or, better, out of doors, with the butts well covered 

 with earth. Freezing will not hurt them. This is practically 

 "heeling them in," and they should remain there until 

 about the time the leaves of the trees in the vicinity begin 

 to grow. Then take a pick and make a slanting hole in the 

 ground where the tree is to stand this hole should be at 

 an angle of about twenty or thirty degrees from the hor- 

 izontal and insert the cutting up to the bud, leaving the 

 latter just even with the surface of the ground. Stamp the 

 earth down on the cutting and the operation is completed. 

 It is absolutely necessary that the earth be packed down 

 close on the cutting and that it and the earth should be in 

 close contact. Nearly every one will grow if these instruc- 

 tions are followed, providing, however, that there is not a 

 growth of weeds, grass, or shrubs to shade and suppress 

 them. The author knows of a case where cuttings were 

 planted in ground on which goldenrod grew very dense 

 to a height of nearly four feet, and right alongside were 

 cuttings placed in ground where there were no weeds to 

 shade. The latter all lived and flourished ; some grew four 

 feet high the first year; while in the other ground, all 

 started to grow, but nearly all were dead by fall. 



It is impossible to indicate the distance apart that the 

 trees should be planted. That depends largely upon the 

 character of the soil. If the ground is rich and moist, they 

 may be placed from six to eight feet apart ; if poor and dry, 

 five or six feet apart will be best. It has been shown by 

 experience that twelve feet is too great a distance on dry 



