Gbe lational IHursc r\> 
FOR GROWERS AND DEALERS IN NURSERY STOCK 
The National Nurseryman Publishing Co., Incorporated 
Vol. XXXI HATBORO, PENNA., DECEMBER 1923 _ No. 12 
The Propagating Question 
Address By I. D. Hudgins, Chamblee, Ga., Before the Southern Nurserymen s Association 
A plea for high grade American plants, horticultural 
history does not record the same degree of advancement 
in scientific discoveries, and improved methods of pro¬ 
duction that is found in other fields of industry. 
Nature holds out an open book, and does all she can 
to teach us her ways, and methods of production; yet, 
we have scarcely learned the alphabet of horticultural 
science. 
We are still groveling in the old ruts, and using the 
same methods of propagating plants and securing new 
varieties that were used by the ancient and medieval 
nations centuries ago. 
In this advanced age of science and invention, we still 
rely upon chance seedlings for new varieties; and de¬ 
pend on cuttings, budding and grafting for multiplying 
the kinds of plants, in the same way it was done before 
the Christian Era. 
Our intelligence teaches us that every variety of plant 
contains individual elements that determine (he charac¬ 
ter and quality of its leaves, flowers and fruit. 
Science teaches us that the action of protoplasm and 
and chlorophyl on a spore cell, determines whether that 
particular cell shall be a wood-fiber, a leaf, a flower- 
petal or a fruit. 
Protoplasm, chlorophyl and cellular structure, appear 
to be natures’ combination lock; that so long defied 
human intelligence to unlock, and allow it to produce any 
kind of plant it might desire, and chemistry is the key 
which will eventually open the door. 
Plant sports, assexual Hybrids, and fruit-like growths 
found on plants are attributed to certain insects. Their 
natural instinct has led them to control plant-growth for 
their own accommodation; shall we allow the instinct of 
the lowly insect to surpass human intelligence? 
Already, some light has dawned on this problem, ex¬ 
periments made have produced startling results; and, 
. who knows, but that at an early date, some horticultural 
scientist may be able to produce any style or quality of 
plant, right in line with the artist and manufacturer. 
Go-incident with increased population-and demand for 
plants, the nurseryman finds he must increase his facili¬ 
ties for supplying the trade. 
A ready source of lining-out stock of plants, is a prime 
factor to a nursery, as capitol to commerce or raw mater¬ 
ial to a manufacturer. 
Previous to the World War, or rather, before the 
Federal Embargo, limiting the importation or foreign 
grown nursery stock, it was a custom for American 
Nurserymen to depend upon “small” imported ornamen¬ 
tal stock for the greater part of his plantings. 
These were supplemented, of course, by some green¬ 
house products and a few seedlings, and such kinds of 
hard-wood cuttings he could root himself. 
Now, that the embargo has practically shut out the 
supply of cheap foreign stock; and, in the face of a 
rapidly growing demand for every kind of flowering 
shrub and ornamental plant; especially, the higher types 
of evergreens; we find the American nurseryman con¬ 
fronted by two serious problems. 
First. The difficulty of getting a supply of lining-out 
stock. 
Second. The scarcity of practical and scientific 
propagators, who can get results without a green-house 
or other prohibitively expensive equipment. 
Conditions having arrived to this stage of affairs, allow 
me to state this fact: “When necessity demands a new 
road to success, ‘science and invention’ is ever ready to 
pave the road.” 
Botanists claim that cuttings of every kind of plant 
should root readily if taken in proper condition and sub¬ 
mitted to its essential elements under the proper condi¬ 
tions. 
The essential elements are: light, heat and moisture; 
and we have only to modify and regulate these elements 
properly, to root cuttings of any kind of plants. 
Now, it does not matter, whether these elements are 
supplied by artificial means, as in a green-house; or, fur¬ 
nished by nature from sunlight and rain; if properly 
regulated, the results are the same. 
Experiments have proven, that neither a green-house, 
hot-bed, glass, nor potting of plants are necessary to root 
plants all summer. 
This applies to broad-leaf evergreens, connifers and 
all other plants usually grown from cuttings. 
In fact, right here in the south, conditions are such 
that we may continue the cutting bed the year round. 
Summer cuttings may be used from April till Novem¬ 
ber ;and hard cuttings, from December till March. 
The Southern Nursery Association has crossed the bor¬ 
der line of experiment; has subdued the oflensive, and 
now stands armed and fully equipped lor success in a 
land of opportunity. 
With a southern climate for a green-house, the sunny 
sky for the glass, congenial soil for a plant-bed and a 
whole world of eager enthusiastic buyers lor a market; 
you only have to reach out for success and it is yours. 
