CHAPTER IV 



PROPAGATION BY UNDERGROUND PARTS 



By plant propagation we mean the multiplication of plants by 

 any means, with the intention of securing a number of individuals 

 of the same kind as the parent stock. 



BY DIVISION OF HOOTS 



A great many perennial herbs and woody shrubs have buds 

 near the crown, just beneath the surface of the ground. In nearly 

 all such cases the plant may be dug up and the parts separated by 

 splitting, cutting, or otherwise dividing the underground parts. 



Important Conditions. — Roots bearing some of the buds near 

 the upper part will be likely to grow when properly planted in a 

 new place. The important point is to have some healthy buds 

 with plenty of root surface. (Fig. 19.) 



Herbs Propagated by Root Division. — Among the numerous 

 herbaceous perennials which are readily propagated by this method 

 are asparagus, rhubarb, some columbines, golden glow, lily-of-the- 

 valley, peony (Fig 20), hardy chrysanthemum, Pulsatilla (Fig. 21), 

 marsh marigold, bleeding heart, larkspur, gold seal (Fig. 22) and 

 others. Many of these have true stems under ground. 



Shrubs Propagated by Root Division. — Those shrubs which 

 have root-stocks or stolons, running out a short distance, can 

 easily be propagated by division. Many hardy garden roses are 

 of this type. The Japanese rose (Rosa rugosa) is an excellent 

 example. Other common shrubs are. barberry, spirea, some spe- 

 cies of dogwood, common lilac, red raspberry, sweet syringa, and 

 many others familiar to all. 



Suckers are underground stems with shoots sent up at a 

 short distance from the parent plant. These may be taken up with 

 enough root for their support and may then be set out as new 

 plants. Some types of cherries may be propagated by this method. 

 The multiplication of red raspberries, already mentioned, is really 

 of this type. The silver-leaved poplar is one of the worst trees 

 about sending up too many suckers ; their real roots send up shoots. 

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