138 THE PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE 



3c. Detached buds 



231. Of propagation by detached buds, there 

 are two types, buds which are inserted in the 

 soil or in water, and those which are inserted in 

 another plant. The former are cuttings ; the 

 latter are grafts. 



232. Cuttings may be made of soft or un- 

 ripe wood, or of hard and fully matured wood. 

 Of the soft kinds are cuttings (or "slips") of 

 geraniums, fuchsias, and the like. Of the hard 

 kinds are cuttings of grapes and currants. 



233. Soft cuttings are made of shoots which 

 are sufficiently mature to break or snap when 

 bent double. They comprise at least one joint, 

 and sometimes two or three. The leaves are 

 removed from the lower end, and if the upper 

 leaves are large they may be cut in two, or 

 sheared, to prevent too rapid evaporation. A 

 soil free from vegetable matter, as sand, is pref- 

 erable. It is generally necessary to shade the 

 cuttings until they are established. 



234. Hardwood or dormant cuttings are 

 taken in fall or winter. They usually comprise 

 two or more buds. They root better if they are 

 callused (partially healed over on the bottom 

 end) before they are planted : therefore, it is 

 customary to bury them in sand, or to stand 

 them in sand,, in a cool cellar until spring. In 



