CHAPTER XXVIII 



Cultivated Plants 



There are three methods of propagation 

 practised in cultivation : these are layering, 

 by cuttings and by grafting. In order to 

 appreciate the value of these operations 

 we must recall the origin of our plants in 

 common use. 



Perhaps you may imagine that the pear 

 tree has always exerted itself in producing 

 large fruit with melting flesh with a view to 

 our food ; that the potato has swollen its 

 great tubers with floury matter for our 

 pleasure ; or that the cabbage formed its 

 compact head of beautiful leaves of its own 

 accord for our gratification. You may think 

 that the wheat, the pumpkin, the carrot, the 

 vine, the beetroot, and so many others, have 

 taken a keen interest in man and have 

 always worked for him independently. You 

 believe that the fruit of the vine is now 

 similar to that from which Noah drew the 



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