TAMING THE WILD BLUEBERRY 107 



is cut ofP above the still dormant bud. In greenhouse experiments, 

 a growth of over 8 feet has been secured from an inserted bud in its 

 first growing season, all other growth from the stock having been 

 promptly rubbed off as soon as it started. 



) 

 Stumping. 



The easiest way to propagate the swamp blueberry is by a special 

 process of layering named "stumping." The directions are as 

 follows : 



1. In late fall, winter, or spring, preferably in early spring before the 

 buds have begun to push, cut off at the surface of the ground either the 

 whole of the plant or as many of the stems as it is desired to devote to this 

 method of propagation. The stems that are cut off are discarded, or they 

 may be used for cuttings, as described under "Tubering" or "Winter 

 cuttings." 



2. Cover the stumps to the depth of 2 to 3 inches with a mixture of 

 clean sand and sifted peat, 2 to 4 parts of sand to 1 of peat, by bulk. A 

 rough box or frame may be built on the ground to keep the sand bed in 

 place. 



3. Care must be taken that the sand bed be not allowed to become dry 

 except at the surface during the summer. 



4. The new growth from the stumps, which without the sand would 

 consist of stems merely, is transformed in working its way through the 

 sand bed into scaly, erect, or nearly erect rootstocks which, on reaching 

 the surface of the sand, continue their development into leafy shoots. 

 Although roots are formed only sparingly on the covered bases of stems, 

 they develop abundantly during spring and early summer on these arti- 

 ficially produced rootstocks, and by the end of autumn all the shoots should 

 be well rooted at the base. Thej' should remain in place in the sand bed 

 till late winter or early spring, undisturbed and exposed to outdoor freezing 

 temperatures; but the sand should be mulched with leaves, preferably 

 those of red oaks. 



5. Early in the following spring, before the buds have begun to push, 

 open the bed and sever each rooted shoot carefully from the stump. Dis- 

 card the upper portion of the shoot, niaking the cut at such a point as to 

 leave on the basal portion about three buds above the former level of the 

 sand bed. If the cut at the basal end of the rooted shoot is not smooth or 

 the wood is cracked, recut the surface with a sharp thin-bladed knife. The 

 discarded upper portion of the shoot may be used for winter cuttings, as 

 described on pages 112 to 115. 



6. Set the rooted shoots in a coldframe or a cool greenhouse in clean 



