The new enterprise., 1905-05-11
MAKE CUTTINGS NOW.

Few people realize how simple
matter it is to propagate ones own
grape vines, currants, gooseberrles and
most ornamental shrubs. If the work
is properly done, these plants may be
readily propagated by means of cut
tings made late in autumn after the
leaves are Off the plants, but prefer
ably before cold weather comes on.
Only well-ripened, mature wood that
has grown during the preceding sum-
mer should be selected for making the
cuttings, all soft or immature parts
being discarded. The cuttings them
selves should be made six to ten inches
long, and the base Of each should be
cut squarely just below a bud, so the
bud is retained at the lower end.
These cuttings should be tied up in
bundles Of convenient size, say one
hundred in a bundle, their butts or
basal ends, all one way, well shaken
down so as to stand level on a Hat
table. They may be then kept through
the winter in a cellar or callus pit.
If one has a good, cool cellar which
is not too dry, 1t will be a good place
TO keep the cuttings until time to plant
in the spring They will keep best if
packed in moist sawdust, though
slightly moist soil or sand will do.
Fresh, moist sawdust is best; 1t is
neither wetter nor drier than the wood
of the cuttings itself.
Place about two inches of the moist
sawdust in the bottom of n boz and
stand the cuttings in, base downward,
so that the smoothly cut end Of each
will be pressed firmly upon the saw
dust, so as to enable it to take up any
necessary moisture through the cut
surface in case there is a tendency to
dry out As soon as the boxes are
filed with the cuttings sawdust should
be shaken in among them so as to nj
all air spaces as far as possible, and
the tops covered with two or three
inches Of sawdust so as to keep them
from drying out.
If the cellar is very dry wooden
cover may be placed over the box to
prevent drying, If the cellar is fairly
moist and especially II it is warm, it
is best not to cover the box, as the
cuttings will be more liable to mold IL
covered.
BY spring most Of these cuttings will
have put out a callus where the butt
of the cutting comes In contact with
the moist sawdust. This callus is the
first start toward making a root sys-
TEN. In many cases even the roots
themselves will be produced before
spring.
Upon the approach Of spring, as early
as the soil can be worked, and before
the buds on the cuttings have begun
to grow, they should be planted out |
in good garden soil. The rows should |
be about four feet apart, to admit of |
easy cultivation, and the cuttings
should be set very firmly in the soil,
so as to leave no air spaces about |
them, and set deep enough 50 only |
the uppermost but is above the ground |
They should then be given clean cul-
tiyatlon and hoed to keep down all |
weeds during the summer, when usual |
" an excellent growth Of plants will
be secured.
Currants, gOoseberrles, the Mariana
md Golden Beauty plums, some varie-
lies of ounces, the barberry, spirea,
plvet and most varieties
1f shrubs, as well as willows, poplars
md some other varieties Of forest
trees, root readily from cuttings han
lied in this manner.-J. C. Whltten,
Missouri Agricultural College.
In the city Of Chicago a plot Of land
Nna nnrchn sod for Slnn and aftnr hn-