PEOPAGATIOKT BT CUTTINGS. 



149 



wHch will percolate the soil at every shower and furnish 

 nutriment iu solution to the roots. I have found this to 

 answer well in some seasons, while in others a fungus 

 (Mushroom) would spread through the manure, and when 

 it came in contact with the young growth on the cutting 

 it was very likely to destroy it. This, however, can be 

 prevented by frequently stirring the manure, and I may 

 remark that frequent stirring the surface soil is almost 

 equal to mulching for keeping the cutting-bed moist. 

 In some soils, and in hot and dry climates, 

 covering the surface of the soil with coarse 

 hay, straw, spent tan-bark or spent hops from 

 the breweries, and other similar materials, 

 will be of great service in keeping the soil 

 moist and of an equable temperature. 



Making Cuttings. — Nearly all plants emit 

 roots more readily at or near their buds or 

 joints than elsewhere ; therefore, 

 in making cuttings, it is always 

 well to sever them just below a 

 bud or buds, as shown in figure 

 49, thereby exposing the wood at 

 a point from which roots appear 

 to be produced most freely. It is 

 true that some kinds of plants, 

 like the Willow, Catalpa, and the 

 common Quince, emit roots very 

 readily from every part of the 

 stem, and with these it is not 

 just'below necessary that they should be cut onTTwa op 

 THE BTOs. Qg ^jgi^,^ ^ ^j^3_ -^ith some of ^°^^°^ «™- 



the hollow stemmed plants, or those having a large pith, 

 like the Sugar Cane and Bamboos among the large grasses, 

 or the Mock Orange, Syringa {PMladelphus), and Deutzias 

 among shrubs, the orifice is usually entirely closed, or 

 nearly so, at the joints, as shown in figure 50, or opposita 



Fiff. 49. 



CUTTING CUT 



