942 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



Amongst the various methods of propagation in vogue at the 

 present time are the following : seedlings^ decidedly the most 

 natural way ; division of plants or rootsfocks, under which may 

 be classed the numerous modes of propagation by bulbils, tubers, 

 offsets, suckers, runners, and layers ; next come cuttings, which 

 are largely used in horticulture; and, finally, we have budding 

 and grafting. The last-named two are the most artificial modes 

 of propagation, but it is by these methods that an enormous 

 quantity of trees and shrubs which form the chief ornamentation 

 of our gardens, »S:c., are propagated. 



Seeds and Seedlings. 



Seeds are only obtained from flowering plants, and are the 

 product of the union of the two sexual parts. In non-flowering 

 plants (generally called Cryptogams) such as Ferns, Fungi, and 

 Mosses, the reproductive power is found in spores, the groups 

 of which can easily be seen below the surface of their leaves, 

 or fronds. Seeds and spores possess all the elements required 

 for the formation of plants if they are submitted to suitable 

 conditions. 



Although seedlings are the most natural mode of propagation, 

 they do not answer for everything. Flowers are very readily 

 influenced by "foreign" pollen, which in some instances has a 

 predominant influence, and this fact is proved every day if we 

 carefully w^atch the artificial conditions under which plants are 

 cultivated. Horticulturists have found various advantages in the 

 cross-fertilisation of flowers, commonly known as hybridisation, 

 and it is through most careful selection of parent plants that 

 many of our garden and greenhouse subjects have been improved. 

 Glance twenty years back. What were our Roses, Gloxinias, 

 Primulas, Begonias, Anthuriums, &c. ? What an amount of work 

 has been done in that time ! The hybridisation of Orchids, 

 which was then almost unknown, is now carried out in nearly all 

 collections, and the plants so obtained are generally far superior 

 to the parents. 



Seeds, as a rule, reproduce more or less the typical plant, 

 but by careful selection the species may be improved, the seeds 

 thus obtained producing in some cases a new type or variety 

 more valuable than the original. 



Testing Seeds. — Seeds ought to be sown while as fresh as 

 possible, so as to prevent disappointment. Several methods ot 

 testing them have been recommended. One is to place them 

 in water, when those sinking to the bottom are supposed to 

 be good, whilst the bad ones remain on the surface ; but not 

 much value can be attached to this test, for in some cases the 

 good seeds (especially oily kinds) will also float. It is a good 

 plan to pick a few seeds from the lot and to cut them in two 



