110 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



ployed in stumping, namely, the forcing of new shoots in such a 

 manner that their basal portions are morphologically scaly root- 

 stocks, with a strong rooting tendency. The directions for tubering 

 as applied to the swamp blueberry are as follows: 



1. Make stem cuttings from outdoor plants between midwinter and 

 early spring, before the buds have begun to make their spring growth, and 

 preferably on a warm day when the twigs are not frozen. A still better 

 plan is to make the cuttings in autumn after the leaves have fallen, and 

 store them for about two months in moist sphagnum moss on ice at a 

 temperature just alcove freezing. 



2. Ihe cuttings are to be made from vigorous plants grown in well- 

 lighted situations and with stems therefore well stored with starch. Use 

 unbranched portions of the old and hardened branches and stems, about a 

 quarter of an inch to an inch, or even more, in diameter. From 3 to 4 

 inches is a suitable and convenient length. Make the cuts with pruning 

 shears or a fine-toothed saw and remove the bruised wood at the cut ends 

 with a sharp knife. Be careful not to injure the bark or split or strain the 

 wood. 



3. Lay the cuttings horizontallj' in a shallow box or other cutting bed 

 of pure clean sand and cover them to the depth of about half an inch. 

 Moisten the sand well with rain water, bog water, or other pure water (free 

 from lime) from a sprinkling pot, and see that the sand is closely and firmly 

 packed about the cuttings. Cover the box or cutting bed with a pane or 

 panes of glass, the top of the box being fiat, so that the glass fits it rather 

 snugly. The box should be so prepared that any surplus water in the 

 sand will drain away beneath through holes in the bottom covered with 

 clean broken crocks and sphagnum moss. 



4. Keep the box at a temperature of 55° to 65° F., or as near those 

 limit* as practicable. A temperature of 70° or over is likely to ruin the 

 cuttings. 



5. In order to avoid excessive temperatures, do not allow direct sunlight 

 upon the glass, either keeping the box by north light or keeping it shaded, 

 as by a white cloth or paper cover suspended several inches above the glass, 

 or in a shaded greenhouse. ' 



6. Keep the air inside the box saturated with moisture. This condi- 

 tion will be evidenced by the condensation of the moisture on the under 

 side of the glass during the cooler part of the day or whenever a cold 

 wind blows against the glass. 



7. Watering should he as infrequent as practicable, only sufficient to 

 keep the sand moist but well aerated and the atmosphere in the box satu- 

 rated. If the glass fits tightly, a second watering may not be needed for 

 several weeks. 



8. Within a few weeks new growth will begin to appear above the sand. 

 When the shoots have reached a length proportionate to their vigor, com- 



