310 THE PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE 



What are the two great classes of methods by means of which 

 plants are propagated? What three objects has the farmer in 

 mind when he propagates plants? What do you understand by 

 the term "propagation" as applied to plants? Why are not seeds 

 always employed as a means of propagation? What is meant by 

 the term "to come true to seed?" Explain why it is that plants 

 that are habitually propagated by buds usually do not come true 

 from seeds (215a). 



What are four general requisites or proper conditions for the 

 germination of seed? What is meant by the "vitality" of seeds? 

 How do seeds vary in vitality, and why? What is a "seed-bed?" 

 In what condition should it be? What caution is suggested for the 

 handling of old and weak seeds? What is the reason for the 

 soaking of seeds? How is oxygen applied to germinate seeds? 

 How may this supply be increased in a simple experimental way? 

 What is meant by the proper temperature for the germination of 

 seeds? Give examples of temperatures that are best for certain 

 kinds. 



What is the ideal soil for a seed-bed, and why? How is the 

 depth of planting modified by the kind of soil? Why is the earth 

 packed about seeds? What caution is given respecting the cover- 

 ing of very small seeds? What is meant by "re -germinating?" 

 How are very hard and bony seeds sometimes treated? What do 

 you understand by the term "stratification?" 



What do you understand by the phrase "propagation by means 

 of buds"? Under what circumstances are plants propagated by 

 means of buds? What are the two general types of propagation 

 by buds? 



Explain what a layer is. Bring a shoot into the schoolroom 

 and show how layering is performed, or make a layer from some 

 bush or tree nearby. What plants are propagated by means of 

 layers? When are the layers separated from the parent plants? 

 When may the operation be performed? 



What are the two kinds of propagation by means of detached 

 or separated buds? What is a cutting? A slip? A graft? Tell 

 what softwood or greenwood cuttings are, and explain how they 

 are made and handled. What are hardwood and dormant cut- 



