Mr. Gideon of Minnesota planted many apple seeds, and from them all raised one tree that was very fruitful, finely flavored, and able to withstand the cold Minnesota winter. This tree he multiplied by grafts and named the Wealthy apple. It is said that in giving this one apple to the world he benefited mankind to the value of more than one million dollars. It will be well to watch for any valuable bud or seed variant and never let a promising one be lost. Plants grown in this way from seeds are usually spoken of as seedlings.
A LUSCIOUS AND EASILY GROWN BERRY
Plants to be propagated from Buds
The following list gives the names and methods by which our common garden fruits and flowers are propagated:
Figs: use cuttings 8 to 10 inches long or layer.
Grapes: use long cuttings, layer, or graft upon old vines.
Apples: graft upon seedlings, usually crab seedlings one year old.
Pears: bud upon pear seedlings.
Cherries: bud upon cherry stock.
Plums: bud upon peach stock.
Peaches: bud upon peach or plum seedlings.
Quinces: use cuttings or layer.
Blackberries: propagate by suckers; cut from parent stem.
Black raspberries: layer; remove old stem.
Red raspberries: propagate by root-cuttings or suckers.
Strawberries: propagate by runners.
Currants and gooseberries: use long cuttings (these plants grow well only in cool climates;
if attempted in warmclimates, set in cold exposure).
Carnations, geraniums, roses, begonias, etc.: propagate by
cuttings rooted in sand and then transplanted to small pots.
EXERCISE
Propagate fruits (grape, fig, strawberry) of various kinds; also ornamental plants. How long does it take them to root? Geraniums rooted in the spring will bloom in the fall. Do you know any one who selects seed potatoes properly? Make a careful selection of seed at the next harvest-time.
SECTION XVIII. PLANT SEEDING
In propagating by seed, as in reproducing by buds, we select a portion of the parent plant—for a seed is surely a part of the parent plant—and place it in the ground. There is, however, one great difference between a seed and a bud. The bud is really a piece of the parent plant, but a piece of one plant only, while a seed comes from the parts of two plants.