PROPAGATION OF PLANTS. 199 



currant, close to the mam stem; by others, like the plum 

 and paper mulberry, at considerable distance. Rasp- 

 berries, poplars, roses, lilacs, and many other shrubs and 

 trees, are thus readily propagated, the offspring with the 

 roots that properly belong to it being carefully separated 

 from the parent and replanted in suitable soil. The roots 

 of the parent plant should be injured as little as possible. 

 Remove the soil, and if the sucker springs from a large 

 root, detach a slice of it with the sucker instead of sever- 

 ing it. The supply of nourishment being diminished by 

 separation from the parent plant, the head of the plant 

 removed must be cut in, except in the case of coniferous 

 plants, to prevent evaporation. 



The great objection to planting suckers is, that plants 

 grown from them have a much greater tendency to throw 

 out suckers, and thereby become exceedingly annoying in 

 gardens, by encroaching on other plants, than if propa- 

 gated by other methods. 



Stem Slickers spring from the stem of' the old plant 

 where its base is beneath the surface. Shoots originating 

 at this point frequently strike root ami become rooted 

 suckers. In plants in which this natural tendency is not 

 sufficiently strong, it may be increased by earthing them 

 up well with good mould, which may be kept moist by 

 mulching. The quince and other plants are propagated 

 in this manner. 



Propagation by Slips. — This is the mode in which 

 many small undershrubs, like box, sage, rue and lavender, 

 are increased. They are dug up in spring or fall, and the 

 young shoots, with some portion of root attached, slipped 

 off with the thumb and finger, and if small, they are 

 planted a year in nursery rows. Many kinds of plants 

 grow from slips of the young branches with little or no 

 root attached. The number of young plants to be obtained 

 by division can be increased in some cases by sprinkling 



