Im -» "'** >JQ8> ^ >>» ' 3*3 ^ i J>1 X> j 3 » > *SK> :> P s» ••'> > > 5» '2? j > ?o ^ ^ ^ a -> ^ tfetct J^-*' f i ^ r THE TEEE PLANTER AND PLANT PROPAGATOK . LONDON : TRINTED BY VIRTUE AND CO., LIMITED, CITY ROAD. INTRODUCTION. The propagation of plants is a most useful and inter- art and in most cases it esting ; although certainly requires care, patience, and perseverance, yet there is a pleasure connected therewith that is quite original in its nature, and those who are masters of the art of propagation are as far in advance of the ordinary course of gardening as an inventor of a piece of machinery is before the man who merely makes the machine according to a given plan. The practical theory for the propagation of plants is scattered over the whole of the literature of garden- so that if want to find how to a certain ing ; you multiply plant you may possess, probably you may have to buy or borrow some book, hard to come at, possessing the required information, before you dare venture to cut your plant for propagation, lest you should lose both the cuttings and the original, which is frequently the case. This has at times cost the loss of a man's pro- fessional reputation, and frequently his place too. It is true some books profess to embody the art of pi'opa- gation of most plants, the information in which may be sufficient in detail for the experienced professional, while conveying mere hints not sufficiently definite for the novice. Here, then, I find good ground for the present attempt to produce a book which in itself shall meet the demand without further reference, trouble, or expense. I well remember when I first took a lively interest in the art of propagation, as I was determined to a2 VI INTRODUCTION. a be plant propagator and plant grower, what anxiety, research, expense, and loss of time I encountered to find how to proceed with some particular class of plant I had in hand. In the present pages I hope I have obviated the necessity for all this trouble, and I trust that under each head enough is detailed for all classes of plants and all classes of plant growers. I think I may assert for a truth, that to become a proficient tree and j>lant propagator is impossible within a very short space of time without consulting works 01 reference, because it frequently happens that the pro- pagation of some kinds may not practically come under the observation of a person once in his life. Yet by reading an article, and by working in the abstract on the subject, a young man may become more than half acquainted with the method of the propagation of the tree or plant. To be a successful forest-tree planter, a man should really know the true physical and functionary powers of the plant, and this can scarcely be practically known unless a man is a propagator : for instance, no one will grow Oak timber well unless he understands the nature of its physical powers and is aware of its peculiar construction, and so on with other trees and shrubs. Those who propagate them are well aware of the formation of the roots, and how the plants perform their functions below the surface, which, no doubt, is knowledge most vital for success. reader The will observe that I have jjlaced the most common classes of trees first. I have clone so because they are of more real importance to man in general than the more ornamental classes and these are ; again, generally passed over by most writers. I have placed the Oak first, as this grand forest tree should be culti- vated to a much greater extent than it is. There are localities which will not grow the Oak well, and there are others which will not the Elm and if a grow ; man plants these indiscriminately, without making the neces- sary observations beforehand, the probable result will be timber at some future time not worth much. I once INTRODUCTION. Vll knew a timber merchant who purchased an entire estate of Oak timber, consisting- of a little less than 20,000 trees of a good size, clean, and to all appearance of first- class but it was found to be I quality ; otherwise, was informed, when the timber was cut down. Many of the trees were worthless for shipbuilding in the centres, the hearts being partially decayed. This was on account of the locality not suiting the Oak. So it is with reference to other kinds of trees—as, for instance, the Apple, which will luxuriate in some places, and in others will remain almost stationary and not get much it will neither nor die. larger ; grow CONTENTS. BOOK I. TIMBER, TARE, AND ORNAMENTAL-FOLIAGED TREES. PAGE The Oak 1 The Pine-tree and Fir- The Ash-tiiee 6 tree 16 The Elm 9 The Poplar 21 The Beech 10 The Holly 22 The Birch 11 The Thorn 24 The Lime-tree .... 12 The Sycamore 25 The Chesnut 13 The Plane-tree .... 26 The Acacia (Robinia) . • 14 The Cedar 26 The Acacia Proper . 15 BOOK II. ORNAMENTAL TREES OF LESS GROWTH. The Arbutus, or Straw- The Mountain Ash . berry-tree 28 The Yew 29 The Willow 30 The Syringa 31 The Guelder Rose ... 31 The Portugal Laurel . 32 The Common Laurel . 33 The Bay 34 The Laurestine .... 34 The Escallonia .... 35 The Magnolia .... 36 The Tamarisk . , , . , 37 CONTENTS. BOOK III. SHRUBS OF AN ORNAMENTAL CHARACTER AND DWARF GROWTH. PAGE p\GE | The Etjontmus .... 46 The Ribes, or American The Berberis 47 The Furze 48 The Alth.ua 49 The Azalea 50 The Rhododendron ... 52 The Camellia 52 The Daphne 54 The Deutzia 55 The Cotoneaster . 56 The Box 56 The Kalmia 57 The Weigela 53 CONTENTS. XI BOOK V. THE PROPAGATION AND USES OF GREENHOUSE PLANTS. Xll CONTESTS. BOOK VII. ON THE PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. PAGE The Apple 147 The Raspberry The Pear 150 The Plum 151 The Cherry 151 The Peach, Nectarine, &c. 152 The Grape 15-1 The Gooseberry .... 157 The Currant 158 THE TREE PROPAGATOR AND PLANTER. BOOK I. TIMBER, PARK, AND ORNAMENTAL- FOLIAGED TREES. The Oak. The Oak is multiplied by seed for ordinary timber, and for some rare kinds it is grafted on the common sorts. The acorns should be gathered as soon as ripe, and sown at once either in beds or drills but if a ; large quantity should be required, it is best to sow the acorns in four-feet beds. Choose a nice, kind bit of ground, of a breify nature, with a small proportion of sand in it. This ground should be of a moderately moist nature, and pretty deep. It should be dug fifteen or inches and well broken when the whole eighteen deep, ; bed is so prepared, turn four or five inches of the sur- face clean out on each side of the bed, leaving a level surface, on which sow the acorns as thick as they will lie in one layer, all over the bed, and then turn the soil that was dug out on to the seed, first breaking it moderately fine. When the acorns are sown in drills, the ground must first be and made fine the drills must be drawn dug ; not less than five inches deep with a heavy hoe. The acorns may be sown as thick as marrowfat peas are, and covered up in the same manner. If it should be inconvenient to sow the acorns at once, they must be preserved from drought by keeping- B Z THE TREE PROPAGATOR AND PLANTER. tliem in a damp cellar or outhouse, covered over with ferns, old hay, or straw. They must be sown not later than February under any circumstances. The seedlings should remain three years in the seed-bed, and then transplanted to where they are to remain. It is not often it convenient, but when is, in order to get good old hearty Oak timber, the acorns should be sown where are to remain for timber for the Oak they ; always makes a taproot much in advance of the top growth. This taproot is the secret of getting large and sound old timber ; when an Oak-tree cannot maintain this chief organ, it seldom produces such timber. This was the reason why the old timber referred to in the Intro- duction was unsound at heart. This large quantity of Oak timber grew chiefly on a rocky subsoil, which pre- vented the majority of the trees forming that principal organ—the taproot. We find that self-sown Oak-trees produce the largest as well as the soundest timber. In transplanting young Oaks for timber, care should be taken to maintain as much of the taproot as possible. This is contrary to the usual practice, which consists of as much of it off as but I have cutting possible ; made my observations in this matter, and can confirm what I have said to be a fact. The common Oak (Qucrcus pcdimculata) requires a moist, stiff, strong clay to flourish in, and to attain to a healthy old age. The chief reason why some Oaks throw up suckers is because they cannot form a tap- root—the subsoil does not suit them. Some kinds must be grafted to multiply them and to keep the sort true. The Qucrcus corn's is used for stocks for most of the kinds requiring grafting. The grafting should be done during March and April. The graft should be put on the stock close to the ground, and the stock may be smaller or larger than the graft.