THEE "CUTTINGS" 53 



necessary to make a hole for each " slip " with an iron prong. 

 These cuttings are left for one or two years, when they are 

 ready to put out in the woods. 



These cuttings will throw out perhaps 3 or 4 shoots, but 

 only the best one of each should be allowed to grow. 



Often, in the case of Poplars, which have a terminal bud, 

 long cuttings, 6 to 10 feet long, are cut, and these placed out 

 in the wood direct. The object in this case is to obtain a 

 big tree in the shortest space of time possible, but such 

 cuttings are very expensive to buy, and can only be used if 

 procured at home. 



So also large cuttings of Willow (10 feet long) are often 

 taken, so as to make a tree in the shortest possible time ; 

 such long cuttings often pay, especially where there is any 

 danger from frosts. 



Many other trees and shrubs can be raised from cuttings. 

 Various species of TJmya and Cupressus are often raised by 

 this means, but if it is desired to grow timber, the practice 

 cannot be too strongly condemned ; for such trees will always 

 assume a more or less branchy, shrubby habit of growth. 

 The method, however, is the surest means of perpetuating 

 any particular characteristic which it may be desirable to 

 retain from an ornamental point of view. 



(8) Stocking a Nursery with Purchased Plants. 



Now, although the raising of seedling plants in any large 

 home nursery is much to be preferred, it will often be 

 deemed advisable to stock a small nursery with purchased 

 seedlings, as sufficiently skilled labour will probably not be 

 available. 



Very great care must be taken in the selection and 

 purchase of the seedlings, 1 and if obtained at a reasonable 

 price, the method is likely to give very good results. 



1 It is advisable never to use seedlings imported from foreign 

 countries. Only recently the author observed a bed of seedlings which 

 was badly attacked by a fungus common in Germany but not as yet 

 very common in this country. An unnecessary risk is run if seedlings 

 are imported. 



