PROPAGATION OF FRUIT TREES. 207 



across, close to a joint, and also remove the soft unripened 

 point close to a bud. All buds on the lower half of each 

 cutting should be removed, allowing about three to remain 

 at the top. Open drills about 4in. deep, and put an inch 

 or so of gritty soil in the bottom. Arrange the cuttings 

 3in. apart in a vertical position along one side of the drill, 

 and then fill up with ordinary soil, and tread down firmly. 

 Do this in September or October, and lift and replant the 

 rooted plants the following autumn. 



Cuttings of Apples and Pears should be about ift. long, 

 have a base, or " heel," of two-year-old wood attached, 

 and the buds removed From the lower half of each. The 

 prepared cuttings should then be inserted 6in. deep, as 

 advised for currants, taking care to make the soil firm. 

 They should not be disbudded till the autumn of the second 

 year. Insert in autumn. 



Fig cuttings should be selected from sturdy, short- 

 jointed shoots, and have an inch or so of older wood at- 

 tached to their base. Cut off the soft joints to a bud. 

 Insert these so that the upper bud only shows above the 

 soil. October is a good time to put in the cuttings. In 

 severe weather protect the cuttings by a covering of litter. 



Mulberries are readily reared from cuttings in autumn. 

 The latter should be prepared from the current year's 

 shoots, a foot or so long, and have about an inch of older 

 wood attached to the base. After removing the soft tips 

 insert the cuttings 6in. deep in firm soil in autumn, and 

 do not transplant for two years. Another form of Mulberry 

 cutting is made by taking a branch about 3ft. long, and 

 inserting this i8in. deep where it is required to grow. This 

 is called a " truncheon cutting." 



Raspberry canes of the current year's growth, well 

 ripened, and about ift. long, will root fairly freely if 

 inserted in a shady north border in autumn. 



Layering. A simple method of propagation. It con- 

 sists of burying a portion of a shoot in soil without re- 

 moving it until rooted from the parent plant: Quince and 



