The morning news., 1889-03-04
rbe r,eConte from Cuttings.

Roth the LeConte and Keiffer pears grow
.ood;1v from cuttings-indeed this is the
onIv good way of propagating them. OF
course. says the MOBILE Register, they
LIGHT he either budded or grated on pear
stocks of other varieties, but it is now set
+lad fact that the trees so propagated fail
+o do near so well as do trees started by cut
tings.
Than to propagate these varieties by cut
tings nothing could be easier in that way,
crowded it was done right. They grow
ika a fig or a willow, but so much depends
IN the right way that many who attempt to
nropagate them by cuttings fall far short of
meeting with entire success. The right
wav differs so materially from the usual
method of propagating by cuttings that we
have thought it our duty to write this arti-
Gle and give few plain directions that, if
s+rictlv followed, will enable any one with
IeConte or Keiffer pear trees on his place,
IN start all the new trees he stands in
need of.
The first thing necessary to be considered
is the site upon which to set the cuttings.
Usually, in putting out cuttings, we make
choice of warm southern slope; or if this
is not attainable, some locality protected
at the north by a fence, or some other char
acter of wind-break, and one upon which
the sun will shine throughout the day with
ont interruption. In case of the pears
under consideration the exact reverse is
necessary.
L A northern slope is the thing for start
ing cuttings of either the LeConte or Keif-
fer pears; and if this cannot be had the
northern side of fence, or house, or some
thing else that will, at least, partially break
off the rays of the sun, may be made to an
swer. No one who expects entire success
with his pear cuttings must neglect giving
special attention to this matter of location
for his cutting nursery.
2. Don't break up and make the land
mellow-the harder it is the better. Why
should you, since your trees are to remain
there through but one season? But cut out
trench in the hard ground, a foot wide at
the bottom, ten inches deep, and eighteen
inches wide at the top. This, as you must
understand, will give the sides of the
trench considerable slope.
8. Get yuor cuttings of last years wood
at the bottom, and lean them against the
southward slope of the trench, say one foot
apart Be sure that there are one or two
buds on each cutting that will be below the
surface when the trench is filed. OF cours Q
there must be bud or two on the cutting
that viii stand above the surface after fill
ing up. 1t will be best to take the cuttings
from the tree now, before the buds are be-
ginning to swell; tie them in small bundles
and bury them in the soil six or eight
inches beneath the surface. Leave them
there until the buds on the trees are begin
ming to swell, then take up and set them.
The buds on the cuttings, on account of pro-
lection by deep covering, in the soil, will
show no signs of swelling, but SO soon as ex-
posed in the nursery bed, they will promptly
start off growing. The object of this pro-
lection is to prevent such drying out By
evaporation as would result if set now and
left to wait until the time for growing
comes on; besides, being belated, as it were,
by the burying, appears to fit them for a
more rapid start, seemin Zly to catch up. In
case burying the cuttings now is not at
tended to, they should be taken from the
first indication of an enlargement of the
bud.
4. Shovel into the trench three or four
inches Of, say fair garden soil, not newly
enriched, and from the first pound it as hard
as possible around the bottom ends of the
cuttings. Don't be afraid of getting it too
hard-the harder the better.
5. Rake on about the same amount of soil
and pound it around the cuttings as before,
and so on, until the trench is filed; then
rake all off level, keep down weeds, and
leave the cuttings to their fate.
If you follow these directions to the letter
not so much as 20 per cent. of your cuttings
will fail to grow. The next year you can
dig them up and set them where you desire
that the trees should stand.