CUTTINGS 225 
pruning, in which case there is a stump which will not heal and its 
decay may result in the destruction of the tree. In Figure 205 
is shown a cut made in the 
proper way. In this case a 
callus is forming and enclos- 
ing the wound. 4 
The Propagation! of Plants 
by Means of Stems 
Some plants, of which the 
Trish Potato is a familiar ex- 
ample, are propagated almost 
— 
ny 
entirely by planting portions YR 
of their stems, which are ca- SS. 
pable of developing roots and 
shoots from their nodes. 
(Fig. 206.) A notable exam- 
ple in Southern countries is 
the Sugar Cane, which is propagated by planting sections of 
stalks from which new plants develop. In the propagation of 
fruit trees, Grapes, Cranberries, Roses, Geraniums, Carnations, 
and many other plants, stems are used, although not always in 
the same way. 
Propagation by stems is often preferable to propagation by 
seeds, because by the former method the new plants are more 
likely to be of the parent type. This fact is demonstrated in 
propagating Apple trees, which seldom come true from seeds, but 
do when propagated by grafting. Another advantage of propa- 
gation by stems is that new plants can be obtained in less time 
than by seeds. By means of cuttings new Geraniums or Carna- 
tions of considerable size are obtained in a few weeks. Propa- 
gation by stems may be by cuttings, layering, grafting, or budding. 
Cuttings. — In the study of prostrate and underground stems, 
it was noted that nodes of stems can develop roots as well as 
shoots. This makes it possible for a portion of a stem to become 
an independent plant under proper conditions. Consequently, 
many plants are reproduced by setting detached portions of their 
Fic, 205.— An example of a wound 
so made that a callus is closing over it. 
After Bailey. 
1 The propagation of plants. Farmers’ Bulletin 157, U.S. Dept. of Agri- 
culture. 
