The Story-Book of the Fields 



most easily propagated by cuttings. Such is 

 the willow, the wood of which is very soft. 

 With plants the wood of which is close and 

 hard, the application of this method would be 

 very difficult or even impossible. It would 

 inevitably fail if applied to the oak, olive, or 

 box, and many other plants with a close 

 texture. Moreover, propagation by cutting 

 is less certain than by layering. The layer 

 remains in connection with the parent plant 

 until it has developed roots, while the cutting, 

 parted abruptly, has to get through the 

 difficult time without roots, unaided. 



Among fruit-bearing plants there are only 

 the vine, the currant, the quince and some 

 varieties of plums and apples that can be 

 propagated by cuttings. Of forest trees, the 

 willow and the poplar will easily take root in 

 this way. A number of decorative species, 

 herbaceous plants or shrubs, such as the rose, 

 the jasmine, or honeysuckle, are easily multi- 

 plied by this method, which is the common 

 expedient of the florist. 



We will consider the simplest case — that 

 which requires the least precaution. Some 

 moist ground near water has to be planted 

 with willows or poplars. At the end of winter 

 strong branches are cut, as thick as a big 



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