Huckleberries or Blueberries 371 



leaves. In early spring they are transferred to a nursery- 

 bed of peat and sand in the open field. This method of 

 propagation requires close attention, and not all the 

 cuttings can be expected to succeed. Young plants grown 

 from cuttings are shown at Plate XVI. 



Root-cuttings. Root-cuttings, three to four inches long, 

 made from roots of all sizes, have given excellent results. 

 They are started in coldframes, with the same treatment 

 given to tubered stem-cuttings. 



After culture 



All young plants, when once rooted, are best exposed to 

 winter freezing. Hot summer suns may injure the young 

 leaves and growing tips. Partial shade will obviate this. 



A peculiar habit of root-growth is found to be charac- 

 teristic of blueberry plants. A knowledge of this is im- 

 portant in transplanting. No root-growth is made in 

 spring until the plants are in full leaf, are nearly through 

 flowering, and have made most of their twig-growth. All 

 this early growth is made chiefly from the food stored up 

 the preceding year. 



This means that in spring planting it is important, 

 either to move all the roots, or to cut back the tops 

 severely. With young, nursery-grown plants, care will 

 secure the roots unharmed. When wild plants are to be 

 brought to the garden, the tops are best cut to stumps 

 which reach only two or three inches above the ground 

 when planted. Such plants can be divided when replant- 

 ing, often affording a number of stumps with roots at- 

 tached. Early spring is the best time for planting, when 

 plants are cut back in this way. 



With unpruned plants, early fall planting gives excel- 



