102 PRINCIPLES OF AMERICA]^ FORESTRY. 



tings is not of so great importance as the source of the 

 seed from which the stock trees were grown, for the qual- 

 ities of individual trees are probably not permanently 

 or greatly changed by climate. For instance, trees grown 

 from the cuttings of Russian Poplars would be as hardy 

 in Dakota if the cuttings came from St. Louis, where 

 they had been growing for years, as they would be if 

 imported direct from Siberia. However, owing to a longer 

 growing season at St. Louis, the wood might be of a more 

 open texture, and perhaps might not resist cold as well 

 as Minnesota-grown wood; but after one season's growth 

 in Minnesota it would probably be as hardy. The same 

 would hold true of plants propagated by any method of 

 division. With the exception of Willows and Poplars, 

 very few of our ornamental trees grow readily from cut- 

 tings. The best time to make cuttings is in the fall, as 

 soon as the leaves will strip easily from the twigs. Most 

 of the Willows and Poplars will grow readily from cuttings 

 made in the spring, and even those made in summer 

 will generally grow if planted in moist soil. For this 

 purpose the smaller branches with the leaves removed 

 should be used. They may also be rooted from growing 

 twigs with the leaves left on, provided the cut surfaces 

 are placed in water, as they should be if stuck in the soil 

 of a swamp or treated the same as cuttings of geraniums. 

 These latter ways, however, are not to be depended upon 

 for general propagation purposes. 



The Form and Size of Cuttings is a matter upon which 

 there is great difference of opinion. Cuttings of the 

 willow from one bud each and only an inch or two long 

 up to those a foot or more in diameter and ten or twelve 

 feet in length can generally be made to grow, but probably 

 the most convenient size for general planting is one- 

 half inch in diameter and twelve inches in length. They 

 are generally tied in bunches of 100 or 200 each for con- 



