288 NATURE-STUDY 



buried in a cellar or some other place in well-drained sand 

 or soil, and the cuts allowed to heal. The next spring they 

 may be planted where wanted permanently, or first set in 

 temporary rows. Set vertically or slanting, so that only the 

 upper bud projects. Choose well-seasoned wood for such 

 cuttings. Many such cuttings may be had for nothing in the 

 fall pruning of vineyards or berry gardens. Raspberry, 

 blackberry, woodbine, ivy, etc., may be grown from root 

 cuttings in a similar manner. 



LAYERING is similar to cutting, except that the branches 

 are first left attached to the parent plant, but are 

 fastened down to the ground and covered with soil at cer- 

 tain joints. At these places roots form, and, when well 

 established, the layer may be severed from the parent and 

 planted independently. Carnations, and other house-plants 

 may be treated thus, also currants, gooseberries, raspberries, 

 etc., grape, and woodbine. These should be layered in the 

 nursery or berry patch. Roses also may be propagated 

 in this way. Many plants, notably the strawberry, form 

 runners for a similar purpose. Practise the setting of 

 strawberries developed from runners. 



GRAFTING: Akin to the above methods of propagation is 

 grafting, by which a stem or bud called the scion is made to 

 grow on a root or a stem of another plant called the stock. 

 The latter is usually a more hardy grower than the scion, 

 while the scion is of a choicer quality. Twigs or buds from 

 a very desirable fruit tree, such as the navel orange, may be 

 set on a wild variety, or on one inferior in fruit but very hardy. 

 This is extensively practised by fruit raisers for propa- 

 gating the best varieties of fruit. The seed of these fruits 

 cannot be depended upon to come true, hence the im- 



