PROPAGATION BY CUTTINGS. 



79 



and 40) ; a part of the mellowed soil is pressed on the base 

 of the cutting with the foot, arid the trench completely filled 

 with the rest of the soil (Figs. 41, 42, 43). The distance 

 generally left between the cuttings is not sufficient to allow 

 the plant to reach complete development during the first 

 year. The most favorable distance would be 20 inches 

 between the lines, and 6 to 8 inches in the lines. 



Fig. 38. 



Open trench for the planta- 

 tion of cuttings. 



Fig. 39. 



Sand placed at the bottom to 

 promote root growth. 



Fig. 40. 



Cuttings placed along the 

 side of the trench. 



When there is no means of irrigation, and when the soil 

 is not naturally moist, it is advisable to cover the whole 

 surface with a mulching. The care to be given to these 

 cuttings simply consists in hoeing to destroy weeds, without, 

 however, removing the mulching during the whole of the 

 summer. When, on the contrary, it is possible to irrigate, 

 the plants are slightly earthed up, so as to leave little drains 

 between the rows in which the water may flow, percolate 

 through the soil, and reach the roots. Frequent hoeing 

 should take place after each watering so as to keep the 

 whole surface loose. 



Fig. 41. 



Soil (T) rammed above the 

 sand. 



Fig. 42. 



Mellowed soil (U) placed 

 above the rammed soil. 



Fig. 43. 



Ridge of sand (S) covering 

 the tops of the cuttings. 



The cuttings may be left one or two years in the nursery. 

 Those left two years are naturally stronger, but they do 

 acquire all the development they would if planted 



rt^ vj 



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