268 Bush-Fruits 



ture, and must receive attention at the earliest possible 

 moment. The commoner practice is to plant in nursery 

 rows soon after the cuttings are taken. They are said to 

 root more quickly if packed in damp moss a week or two 

 before planting. The cuttings are ordinarily made from 

 six to eight inches long, though the older writings recom- 

 mended them to be a foot long. The base should be 

 formed with a clean, square cut just beneath a bud. The 

 top is commonly a slanting cut some distance above the 

 uppermost bud. 



Planting may be by means of a spade, but is more con- 

 veniently and rapidly done by plowing furrows and setting 

 the cuttings against the land-side of the furrow. One or 

 two buds only are left above the surface of the ground, and 

 the earth should be firmly packed about the base of the 

 cuttings. If set early in September, many of the plants 

 will form roots and establish themselves before winter, 

 being in condition to begin growth immediately in spring. 

 As freezing weather approaches, a shovel plow is some- 

 times run through the rows, in order to throw the earth 

 toward but not over the cuttings. This leaves a depres- 

 sion along the rows, and the plants are then easily pro- 

 tected by covering with straw or coarse manure. Mulch- 

 ing in some form is essential during the winter, if the 

 cuttings are planted in the fall. Rich land should be 

 selected, and heavy dressings of well-rotted manure are 

 useful. 



G. A. Marshall, of Arlington, Nebraska, an experienced 

 nurseryman, gives the following method of propagation. 

 As soon as the leaves fall, which is about September first, 

 the cuttings are made, nine inches long. Much of the 



