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XXVIII. On the Propagation of the Mulberry Tree by Cuttings. 

 By Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq. F.R.S. fyc. President. 



Read March 1, 1814. 



Detached parts of the branches of many species of trees 

 so readily emit roots, that mankind must, at an early period, 

 have learnt the art of increasing, by cuttings, the number 

 of plants of any valuable variety of fruit tree ; and as this 

 method is the most simple, it was probably that first known 

 to them. The art of grafting has afforded more expedi- 

 tious, as well as more eligible means, of propagating the 

 greater number of species of fruit trees ; and cuttings of 

 almost all those kinds, which are not usually propagated by 

 grafting, so readily succeed, that the skill of the modern 

 gardener is rarely much exercised in this way, except in the 

 propagation of exotics, of which seeds are not easily attain- 

 able in our climate, and for which proper stocks to graft 

 upon cannot be procured. In the art of making cuttings 

 of these emit roots, some gardeners are to a great extent 

 successful : but this art is understood by comparatively 

 few ; and none of them, as far as I have had opportunities 

 of observing, appear to proceed upon any true theoretical 

 principles. I shall therefore, in pointing out a method of 

 readily obtaining plants from cuttings of the bearing branches 

 of the Mulberry tree, which will soon afford fruit, submit to 

 the Horticultural Society a few observations upon the proper 



