HOW PLANTS ARE PROPAGATED. 57 



erally remains quiet, as it would have done on the parent bough, until the next 

 spring, when it grows just as if it belonged there. 



159. The object of all these ways of artificial propagation from buds is to pre- 

 serve and to multiply choice varieties of a species which would not be perpetuated 

 from seed. For as the fruit of all the natural branches is alike, so it remains 

 essentially unaltered when borne by branches which are made to grow as artificial 

 branches of another plant, or to take root in the ground as a separate plant. The 

 seeds of an apple or other fruit cannot be depended upon to reproduce the very 

 same sort of apple, — that is, an apple of the very same flavor or goodness. The 

 seeds will always reproduce the same species, but not the individual peculiarities. 

 These are perpetuated in propagation from buds. This kind of propagation is there- 

 fore very important to the cultivator. It takes place naturally in many plants, 



160. By stolons, Offsets,' Runners, or Snckcrs, in ways which have already been 

 described (99 to 103, and Fig. 74). These are all forms of natural layering, and 

 they must have taught the gardener his art in this respect. For he merely imitates 

 Nature, or rather sets her at work and hastens her operations. Also, 



161. By Tubers (74, 75, Fig. 59, 60). These are under-ground branches with 

 lively buds, well charged with prepared nourishment, rendering them more inde- 

 pendent and surer to grow. Potatoes and Ground- Artichokes are familiar illus- 

 trations of the kind. They are propagated year after year by their buds, or eyes, 

 being very seldom raised from the seed. Each annual crop of tubers is set free at 

 maturity, by the death of all the rest of the plant. 



162. By Corms, Bulbs, and Bulblets; as explained in paragraphs 77 and 106 to 

 109. Fig. 76 shows a corm or solid bulb of Crocus, which itself grew by feeding 

 upon its parent, whose exhausted remains are seen underneath : it has already pro- 

 duced a crop of buds, to grow in their turn into another generation of corms, con- 

 suming their parent in the process. Bulbs produce a crop of new bulbs from buds 

 in the axils of some of their scales. Tulips, Daffodils, and Garlics propagate very 

 freely in this manner, not only keeping up the succession of generations, but multi- 

 plying greatly their numbers. 



Analysis of the Section. 



154. Plants multiply as well as grow. 155. In two ways ; all plants by seeds, many by buds. 

 156. Most kinds may be propagated by buds artificially. 157. By Layers and Slips or Cuttings. 158. By 

 Grafting or Budding. 159. Object gained by this mode of propagation. 160. It takes place natui-ally, 

 by Stolons, Offsets, &c. 161. By Tubers. 162. By Corms, Bulbs, and Bulblets. 



