PROPAGATION BY CUTTINGS. 



87 



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 convenience in handling, and care should be taken 

 to keep all the butt ends one way to facilitate planting. Very 

 large cuttings are liable, to decay in the 

 center, and are not best to use, although 

 they often make a very rapid growth. 

 Poles of willows and poplars are some- 

 times laid in furrows where they will gen- 

 erally sprout wherever the bark is laid 

 bare and often make good trees. 



In Planting Cuttings of ordinary 

 size it is a good plan to have the soil loose, 

 and then, after marking off the rows, the 

 cuttings can be pushed into the land the 

 proper depth. If not desirable to plow 

 all the land, it may be loosened just where 

 the rows are lo come. Where a subsoil 

 plow can be obtained, it can be made very 

 useful for this purpose. 



Cuttings should be planted at an angle 

 of about forty-five degrees, leaving only one bud above the sur- 

 face of the ground and the soil should be packed firmly around 



Figure n. A bunch 

 allow cuttings. 



Figure 12. Planted cuttings, showing angle and depth 

 at which to plant cuttings. 



them. Those set in a slanting position settle with the soil and 

 remain firm, while those set vertically mav become loosened 

 by the settling of the soil near them, leaving too much of them 

 exposed above the surface, unless very great care is exercised 

 in planting. The rows in the nursery should be about four feet 

 apart, and the cuttings about six inches apart in the rows, though 



