384 PROPAGATING FRUIT PLANTS 



spring, but they will not give as high a percentage of rooted 

 plants. 



In the spring place the cuttings 3 to 6 inches apart in the 

 nursery row, leaving not more than two buds above ground. 

 They will be ready for removal to the field at the end of one or 

 two years. If they are kept in the nursery for two years, it is 

 good practice to transplant them at the beginning of the second 



{Md. Exp. Sta.) 



Fig. 153. (A) Straight hardwood cuttings of grape, gooseberry, and cur- 

 rant. (B) Mallet and heel cuttings of grape. (C) Root cuttings of black- 

 berry. (D) Tip layer of blackcap raspberry. 



season. This gives the plants a close, compact root system that 

 will be little affected by removal to the field. 



As a rule, roots arise most readily from a node, or bud. In 

 preparing cuttings make the lower cut just belov/ a bud. Cut 

 off the upper end far enough above the bud to prevent drying 

 out. The mallet and heel cuttings as shown in Fig. 153B are 

 also used for propagating some varieties of grapes which do not 

 root readily from straight cuttings. 



