18 STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 



From Tips. The extreme ends or tips of branches are 

 taken from the trees in June, when the trees are in a semi- 

 dormant state, and also in the fall and winter, according 

 to state of the trees, when the growth is in its best condi- 

 tion. The cuttings are made about four to six inches long, as 

 per illustration. These tips are gathered indiscriminately, 

 by cutting them with pruning shears, and taken to a bench, 

 where they are prepared for planting. In their prepara- 

 tion a sharp knife is used.'tlThe lower leaves are cut off close 

 to the bud, and the ends of the cuttings are cut obliquely, to 

 within a quarter of an inch of the lower buds. The upper 



t leaves are trimmed to prevent them from car- 

 rying off rapidly the fluids by evaporation, and 

 A to prolong the life of the 



cuttings until callused and 

 iifa' I rootlets are formed. The 

 JH/ / cuttings are placed close in 

 \$ 2k / sand-beds especially pre- 

 pared or in ordinary propa- 

 gating-boxes. Propagating- 

 houses with bottom heat are 

 preferred. The following 

 winter they are transplanted 

 into pots or in nursery row. 



From Suckers. Shoots 



Tip cuttings reduced one half. 



that germinate spontane- 

 ously between the roots, at their insertion on the trunk, on the 

 trunk itself, and on the large roots exposed to the sun, are 

 termed " suckers." These suckers when properly developed 

 are turned to advantage for propagation. These shoots are 

 left to grow at will for awhile; then the trunk of the tree is 

 banked up with earth, so as to cause the suckers to take root, 

 which they generally emit at their base. They are pulled off 

 the parent tree in the winter, with a good portion of roots 

 attached; are then trimmed and planted in nursery, and in a 

 season become good trees and fit for orchard planting. 



By Layering or Stools. This is the only system which 

 can be said to be perfectly safe in the propagation of olive 

 trees. There are no risks to be encountered, and in two or 



