CHAPTER VI. 



PROPAGATION. 



Trees are grown from seeds or by division, the latter 

 term includes increase by cuttings, layers, buds and grafts. 

 Plants grown from seeds are generally more vigorous and 

 longer lived than those of the same spec.es propagated in any 

 other way. Trees should be grown from seeds when it is 

 practicable to do so, but willows and some other trees are 

 apparent exceptions to this rule*and seem to do as well when 

 grown from cuttings as when grown from seeds. Varieties do 

 not generally perpetuate their peculiar characteristics when 

 grown from seeds and must therefore be propagated by some 

 method of division. 



The most desirable trees from which to propagate are 

 those of good form and healthy growth; the latter is the one 

 most important requisite, especially if new plants are to be 

 grown by any method of division. It is not so essential in 

 selecting seeds, as even weak plants may produce good seed- 

 lings bub unhealthy cuttings, layers or grafts are of very 

 uncertain growth. In general it is best that the stock trees be 

 healthy throughout, but a tree may have a rotten trunk due to 

 some injury and still have perfectly healthy branches and be 

 a desicable tree from which to propagate. 



SEEDS. 



Sources of Seeds. In growing trees from seeds the source of 

 the seeds is very important. It may be given as a safe 

 g-eneral rule that seeds are most desirable which come from 

 trees grown in as severe a climate as that in which the seeds 

 are to be sown. It has been found that trees of Box Elder 

 and Red Cedar grown from eeds gathered in Missouri are 

 not nearly so hardy in this section as those from seeds grown 

 in our own state. It has also been, found that seeds from the 



