The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1889-01-03
TREES AND SHRUBS.
Their Successful opagatIon by Means Of
Cuttings.

propagating most kinds of bushes that
produce fruit, vines, several kinds OF
towering shrubs and many varieties OF
trees is by means of cuttings. A supply
of berry bushes can be readily obtained
in this way at nominal cost. IL the
cuttings can not be obtained near home
they can generally be procured from
friends at a distance for the cost OF
transportation. The lilac, SNOWFALL,
honeysuckle, syringia, and spirea can
all be proiitably propagated in the
same way, but they require more at
tention. They all need some protec-
tion from the direct rays of the sun
the first summer after they are placed
in the ground. This may be effected
by means of board fastened to
stakes and placed on the south side
of the row and at the distance
of few inches from it. This will
afford shade during the summer and
prevent injury from wind during the
winter. 1t will also cause snow to
bank up against it, and in that way
will protect the cuttings from the cold.
The board, with the stake to which it
is fastened, can be removed at the end
of the year, as the cuttings will then
be we'll rooted and the new growth of
wood can endure exposure to the sun.
Many kinds of trees, as the willow,
sycamore, poplar, alder and cotton
wood, can be propagated by cuttings.
A branch of the willow, if cut late in
the fall or early in the spring. will
hardly ever fail to grow if it is stuck
into soil that is permanently moist.
The like is true of branch of the
Lombardy or silver-leaf poplar. They
contain a large amount of starchy SUBJ
stance that enables them to throw out
branches and form leaves before any
roots have been formed. The presence
of this substance explains why sprouts
appear on logs cut from a willow tree
and left on dry ground exposed to the
wind and sun. Cuttings of cottonwood,
sycamore and alder will not grow as
readily. because they contain less of
this substance and they must be treat
ed with more care. In planting them
the object should be to produce roots
as quickly as possible, for unless they
are formed very early in the spring
the cuttings will die. Few of what are
known as the hardwood trees can be
grown from cuttings, as they are de-
fcient or entirely wanting in material
to form roots and branches. Some can
be propagated by layers, but most OF
them must be produced from seed.
Cuttings should be made from the
wood produced the previous season,
though branch of willow will grow
under favorable circumstances If it is
several years old The best cuttings
of berry bushes and Towering shrubs
are obtained by severing them from a
point below the surface of the ground.
Taken off in this way some roots
will often be found attached to
them which will enable them to
grow as soon as they are placed in
the ground. Cuttings of most bushes,
shrubs and trees should be not less
in length. They ordinarily do best
when there is strong bud near the
lower end. One long sprout will often
make several cuttings. A very sharp
knife should be used for cutting it into
pieces. The soft unripe wood near the
top should be rejected. The bottom
cutting ordinarily succeeds best. From
now till the time when the ground
freezes Is favorable season for secur-
ing cuttings They can be divided
into the proper lengths, and tied into
bundles of hundred or more. They
can be kept till spring in cellar or
pit or simply buried in the ground. In
either case the bundles should stand
in an upright position and kept from
becoming dry.
Cuttings prepared in the fall and
preserved as above directed will have
callus form at their base from which
roots will issue when they are set out.
They should be put in the ground as
soon as it is in good condition to work
in rows eighteen to twenty-four inches
apart. Not more than six inches Of
space is needed between them. A
trench to set them in can be made with
spade. Not more than one inch of
the cutting should project above the
surface of the ground, which should be
pressed close against it. No cultiva-
ton is required except to keep the
ground free from weeds and grass.
The soil in which cuttings are growing
should be kept moist. If the season is
dry it is best to cover the surface Of
the ground with freshly-cut grass or
coarse manure that does not contain
the seeds of weeds. 1t is generally
best to let the cuttings stand at least
two years in the rows when they were
started before they are transplanted.
If the alternate ones are taken up the
others can remain till they attain
larger size. BY giving good attention
to them not more than one in twenty
will fail to grow. & Chicago Times.
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