240 PEOPAGATION OF PLANTS. 



species {K latifolius). The evergreen species are usu- 

 ally propagated by layers and cuttings. 



JExocHOKDA (Great-Flowered Spiraea). — No suitable 

 stock has as yet been found for these noble shrubs from 

 the North of China, but small pieces of their own roots 

 are employed in place of larger stocks, the cion being 

 affixed to them by splice grafting. 



Fagus (The Beech). — SeedUngs of the American 

 Beech {F. ferruginea), and the European {F. sylvatiea), 

 i-.re generally employed as stocks for the different varieties 

 ill cultivation. Varieties of the Evergreen Beeches of. 

 South America and New Zealand would, of course, be 

 grown on stocks of the species from which they origi- 

 nated. 



Feaxinus (Ash). — Seedlings of the common Euro- 

 pean Ash {F. excelsior), are the best for stocks for all the 

 European and American species and varieties. Long ex- 

 perience in the use of the European Ash as a stock for 

 the many cultivated varieties, has fully established its 

 reputation as one of the best, if not the very best, species 

 to be employed as a stock. The young wood is soft, fine 

 grained, and either buds or cions unite to it readily. 

 The different species of the American Ash may, of 

 course, be employed as stocks for their own or foreign 

 varieties, but the European Ash is usually preferred. 



Gleditschia (Honey Locust). — The common American 

 Honey Locust, or Three-Tbomed Acacia (<?. triacanthos), 

 is an excellent stock for the Chinese species and varieties, 

 as well as the thornless and other varieties of our native 

 species. 



Halesia (Snowdrop Tree). — As the Four-winged 

 Halesia {H. tetraptera), is the largest growing and most 

 hardy species of the genus, it is the best stock. This, 

 and closely allied species, may also be employed as 

 stocks for other species of the Styracacece or Storax family, 

 as, for instance, the Japan Styrax {S, Japonica), and 



