CHAPTER VI. 



PROPAGATION 



Plants are propagated in various ways ; some which increase 

 at a rapid rate by one method cannot be similarly raised by another, 

 while in some cases all methods of propagation fail. The follow- 

 ing are the principal modes of propagation in use : 



Propagation by Seed. This is the most natural mode of 

 increase, and is the one by which the vast majority of plants 

 naturally spread and produce their species, the off-spring being 

 more or less true according as the flowers are disposed to become 

 influenced by foreign pollen affecting their fertilisation. The 

 production of seed may be said to be the aim of the life of every 

 plant in a state of nature. Where exact counterparts of plants 

 cannot be ensured by raising from seed, propagation by vegetative 

 means, as by cuttings, buds, grafts, etc., may be resorted to. 



Selection and Saving of Seed. In the raising of seed of 

 most kinds, it is important that selected plants or trees should be 

 set apart for the purpose and cultivated with special care, so as to 

 encourage the production of perfect and well-nourished seed. The 

 seed from each plant should be sown separately, each batch of 

 seedlings transplanted into a separate plot, and the crop measured 

 or weighed. In this way the parental plants are tested by their 

 performance. It is, however, also advisable where practicable to 

 select individual seeds. Inferior or unproductive plants should 

 be eliminated, and imperfectly formed flowers or fruits removed 

 where possible. Vigour may also be concentrated in the seed 

 by thinning out the flowers or fruits, retaining only the best. This 

 not only applies to annuals which may be grown for ornament or 

 use, but also to fruit-trees, Tea, Coconuts, Cacao, Cotton, Rubber, 

 or other products. It is of importance that seeds should be perfectly 

 ripe before they are gathered, as otherwise their germination and 

 the vitality of the seedling will be affected. Change of seed from 

 one district to another has often a beneficial result, and the practice 

 is generally approved by the best agriculturists and horticulturists. 

 (See under Plant Breeding at end of Chapter). 



