XIV 



PROPAGATION WITHOUT SEEDS 



SEED is of course the beginning of plant life, but 

 Nature does not limit herself to seed alone for 

 plant propagation; indeed she behaves with some 

 things as if she expected almost their every effort in 

 the struggle for existence to be thwarted. And these 

 are the things which we commonly speak of as spread- 

 ing from the roots, or from suckers or stolons. 



It is this determination in every bit of branch or 

 root to live and grow, which makes the process known 

 as layering possible. This process is the simplest 

 means at the gardener's service, other than the sowing 

 of seed, for increasing the number of any given specimen. 

 Being a perfectly natural method of reproduction, the 

 most inexperienced are practically certain of success 

 with it, and it has two advantages — possessed by cut- 

 tings and graftings too — over seedage. 



The first is the certainty of its always preserving the 

 identity of a species or variety, a thing which seedlings 

 cannot always be counted upon to do. Instead of 

 "running true" they have a way of playing curious 

 pranks sometimes, strongly suggestive of those unruly 



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