ASEXUAL PROPAGATION OF PLANTS ON OWN ROOTS 67 



and tuberous roots will start to grow very readily out-of- 

 doors. 



EXERCISES 



EXERCISE I. Propagation by cuttings. 



1. Root-cuttings. 



Materials. Knife; roots of blackberry or similar plants. 



Procedure. Make cuttings from two to six inches long. The 

 shorter length is suitable if the school possesses greenhouse or hotbed 

 facilities. The longer cuttings should be made if they are to be grown 

 out-of-doors. The cuttings should be kept during the dormant season 

 under cool and moist conditions and should be supplied with heat as 

 the growing season approaches. As spring approaches, place the 

 cuttings in the ground about three inches deep and keep watered, and 

 cultivated. 



2. Herbaceous cuttings. 



Materials. Herbaceous plants; cutting-bed; or place out-of-doors. 



Procedure. Make some leaf- and stem-cuttings of herbaceous plants 

 according to methods described in the text. Plant the cuttings in sand 

 in flats or in the greenhouse, or, if the time of year is suitable, out-of-doors. 



3. Hardwood and semi-hardwood cuttings. 

 Materials. Canes of currant bushes, or grape vines. 



Procedure. If the cuttings are to be made from currant bushes, 

 wood of the current season's growth must be used. Make cuttings 

 from six to eight inches long, following the suggestions in the text on 

 hardwood cuttings. Store the cuttings during the winter in the manner 

 mentioned in the text. They must be kept very slightly moist and be 

 protected from heavy frosts. As soon as the weather moderates in the 

 spring, place the cuttings in the open ground with the upper bud just 

 protruding above the surface. Pack the ground tightly around the 

 cuttings. The cuttings will root readily if kept cultivated and supplied 

 with moisture. 



EXERCISE II. Propagation by layering. 



Materials. Black raspberry bushes; grape vines; osier; snowball; 

 currants; gooseberries. 



Procedure. Layer plants according to methods described in the 

 text. Keep a record of the different plants, method of layering, date 

 of layering, and conditions under which they are layered. Examine 

 them from time to time and report on their condition. 



