180 FIELD, FOREST AND FARM 



is to be pyramid-shaped ; otherwise he gives the top 

 a truncate form. Finally the lower end is cut to 

 a point with the hatchet, to make it easier to thrust 

 into the ground. Now the slip is ready for plant- 

 ing, and all that is necessary is to push it well down 

 into the earth by its pointed end and leave it to 

 itself. Without any further attention, if the ground 

 is sufficiently damp, adventitious roots will start, 

 and each of the stakes thus rudely hacked will be- 

 come a poplar or a willow. 



"But other forms of vegetation are far from mani- 

 festing this facility in rooting which makes possible 

 the growth of a tree from a stake driven into the 

 ground, it may be with the blow of a club ; therefore 

 delicate precautions are necessary for success if 

 these obdurate subjects are to be propagated by 

 slips. Let us take the grape-vine as an example. 

 Its slips for planting are shoots of the same year's 

 growth. These are tied in a bundle and their cut 

 ends placed in water to soak for a week or more. 

 Why this long immersion of the part that later is to 

 be planted in the ground? Because the outside bark 

 is dry and tough, difficult for tender roots to pierce, 

 especially if the soil is dry. Accordingly the bark 

 is softened by soaking for some time in water; and 

 also, when the slips are taken out of the water, they 

 are lightly scraped where they are to be in the earth, 

 but left untouched where they are to be in the air. 

 In this way the outer layer of bark is removed 

 after being softened in water, and there is so much 

 the less resistance offered to the growing roots; 



