THE NURSERY-LIST 255 



part of sand and about 2 parts of peat. Keep this bed well drained 

 but continually moist. The new growth arising from the stumps 

 after this treatment takes the form of erect scaly rootstocks which 

 continue into leafy stems and which tend to develop roots in pro- 

 fusion. In the following spring, before growth starts, cut the 

 rooted shoots from the stumps, removing the tops down to about 

 2 inches from the surface of the ground, and set the plants in a 

 peat and sand soil in a cool half-shaded situation sheltered from 

 the wind, preferably in a ventilated frame. 



Timbering. This method involves the same principle employed 

 in stumping, namely, the forcing of small sprouts in such way 

 that their basal portions are morphologically scaly rootstocks, 

 with a strong tendency to root-production. Make cuttings 3 to 

 4 inches long from unbranched portions of old and hardened stems, 

 a quarter of an inch to an inch or even more in diameter, from 

 vigorous bushes grown in full sunlight and therefore with wood 

 well stored with starch. They should be made in late fall and 

 stored in clean hardwood sawdust, preferably basswood, or clean 

 sphagnum moss for two months or more at a temperature of 32 

 to 40 F., until their starch has been transformed to sugar, or 

 made in early spring before the buds begin to swell. Start them 

 early, in a cool greenhouse if practicable, otherwise in a coldframe. 

 Make the cutting-bed of 1 part of peat and 2 parts of sand, or of 

 sawdust and peat as described under winter cuttings. Lay the 

 cuttings horizontally and cover them about f of an inch with 

 the same material as the cutting-bed. Keep the temperature 

 at 55 to 65 as long as the weather permits, using shades 

 suspended over the frames whenever the sun tends to carry 

 the temperature above 65, and keep the atmosphere saturated 

 or nearly so by the closing of the sash. The sprouts root at 

 the base, and at the approach of warm weather the old cutting 

 dies. As soon as the sprouts are well rooted, the frame should be 

 gradually adjusted to full ventilation. The rooted sprouts may 

 be potted then, but a larger percentage become established if 

 they remain in the cutting-bed until spring, at a winter tem- 

 perature of 32 to 40 preferably; but if the cutting-bed is 

 outdoors it should be mulched with leaves during winter to pre- 

 vent injury of the roots from the "heaving" of the soil in 

 repeated freezing and thawing. 



Root-cuttings often make excellent plants when treated in the 

 same way as tubered cuttings. 



