Propagation 285 



and be buried outside or placed in a cellar for winter, as 

 directed for currants. If left until spring, they must be 

 taken very early, as they push into growth at the first 

 touch of warm weather. Cuttings are made from six to 

 ten inches long, using only well-ripened wood of the cur- 

 rent season's growth. Formerly the lower buds were 

 cut out before planting, in order to prevent suckers from 

 springing up, thus securing a tree form of growth. This 

 is no longer followed in commercial growing, though it 

 may be desirable where attractive bushes are wanted for 

 the garden. The soil should be pressed firmly about the 

 base in planting, and only one or two buds be left above 

 the surface of the ground. Thorough mulching is impera- 

 tive, if the cuttings are planted in the fall. 



Some varieties, like Houghton, root readily from cut- 

 tings, but Downing and other strong, vigorous growers 

 do not, consequently layering is oftener used. It is gener- 

 ally believed that stockier and better plants are obtained 

 from cuttings. Bent layers root readily, but this is too 

 slow, and the number of plants produced is too small for 

 commercial work. Mound-layering is the method gener- 

 ally followed. For this purpose the plants are cut back 

 severely in autumn, to induce many shoots to grow the 

 succeeding spring. About July 1, when these have made 

 their principal growth, earth is mounded up about and 

 among them, leaving only their tips exposed. American 

 varieties will root readily, and may be removed the same 

 autumn, but English varieties are left in this position for 

 two seasons. The last of October, or before the ground 

 freezes, the soil is thrown back, and the shoots are cut 

 away and trenched or buried in the cellar for spring 



