ROOT GRAFTING. 13 



the seeds into the soil with the back part of a spade and cover lightly 

 with soil screened through a quarter-inch sieve. 



In order to obtain the best results, the seed beds should not be ex- 

 posed to the sun until a considerable time has elapsed after germina- 

 tion. This condition may be provided as follows: Procure some 

 pieces of 2 by 3 inch scantling. Place two of the pieces parallel to 

 each other 5| feet apart. Xail laths from one to the other, using 

 the 2-inch surface in which to drive the nails. Leave a 1-inch space 

 between the laths. The slats are put lengthwise over the beds and can 

 be used with or without the side boards. Over the slats spread arch- 

 angel mats, or canvas, until germination takes place. The-e cover- 

 ings should be frequently dampened. After the seedlings show above 

 the ground the cloth coverings are to be kept on during the hottest 

 part of the "day only, and when the first true leaf appears they may 

 be removed altogether and the shade necessary thereafter supplied 

 by the lath slats. \Yater must be supplied if the soil needs it. With 

 spring-sown seed the coverings over the lath slats may be dispensed 

 with, but the surface of the bed should not be allowed to become dry 

 until the seedlings are large enough to take care of themselves. 



To raise seedlings of the Os,age orange, gather the fruits as they 

 fall from the trees and leave them out of doors until they rot. The 

 seeds are then easily removed. Keep them in damp sand during the 

 winter and sow in the spring, covering them 1 inch with fine soil; 

 transplant the seedlings during the following spring. 



GRAFTING AND BUDDING. 



In the silk-raising countries of Europe it is claimed that the leaves 

 of trees raised from cuttings and seeds are superior for silk produc- 

 tion, but that the quantity of leaves produced by trees so propagated 

 is only about one-half the bulk of those from grafted or budded trees. 

 Therefore, to produce a large quantity, grafting and budding meth- 

 ods of propagation are practiced to a great extent. This is an impor- 

 tant point to consider, and the writer is inclined to the belief that in 

 the propagation of plants giving the highest grades of silk there will 

 be little danger of a scarcity of material, as in most parts of the 

 United States the mulberry thrives as well as, if not better than, any- 

 where in Europe. 



For those who decide to try propagating by grafting and budding 

 two of the most successful methods of performing the operation are 

 here described. 



ROOT GRAFTING. 



Root grafting is done in February and March. The stocks, which 

 are one or two year old seedlings of the Russian mulberry (Morns 



119 



