RAISING SEEDLINGS 25 



an exceptionally mild one, the mercury falling below 

 zero but once at Lincoln, and then only five degrees 

 below, yet the destruction was as complete as ever. 



Young plants of the Taylor blackberry were uni- 

 formly killed to the ground during this winter, while 

 plants in adjoining rows, of the same age and in every 

 way comparable, but which were laid down and cov- 

 ered, came through perfectly green to the tips. The 

 following winter, 1896-7, was much colder, but the 

 preceding summer and autumn had been favorable, 

 with plenty of rain, and the plants went into winter 

 quarters with abundant moisture in the ground. Con- 

 trary to their usual custom, and in spite of much 

 lower temperature, both raspberry and blackberry 

 plants came through the winter in good condition with- 

 out protection. Drought is more disastrous than cold 

 in Nebraska. 



PROPAGATION * 



The common methods of propagation consist in a 

 division or continuation of the parent plant by means 

 of tips, suckers or cuttings, according to the habit of 

 the species. Reproduction from seeds, by means of 

 which new varieties are obtained, "is the same in all. 

 When the fruit is thoroughly ripe the seeds should be 

 washed out of the pulp in water, and may then be 

 sown at once, or first dried, like other seeds, and sown 

 later. There is reason to believe that a larger propor- 

 tion of the seeds will germinate the first spring after 

 sowing if put in the^ soil at once, than if dried and 



*For extended discussions of propagation of plants, see "The Nursery-Book.' 



