ARBORICULTURE. 



339 



PLATE CIII. 



about six feet apart every way in a deep, fresh soil. The stem 

 at first is either bent down into the ground as a layer, or cut over 

 a few inches from the root. The shoots which are produced 



from its sides form the layers 

 (c?). The rooting of the 

 layers is much facilitated by 

 obstructing in part the de- 

 scending sap ; this is essential 

 to some kinds of layers, though 

 not to all : the common laurel, 

 privet, etc., strike root readily without any artificial stoppage of 

 the descending sap. The most expeditious mode of effecting 

 this, is to cut a notch, slanting upwards to the origin of the layer, 

 about half a diameter in length (/), and securing the position of 

 the layer in the ground by a wooden peg (g). Where the shoot 

 is of a nature that roots with difficulty, it is useful to split the 

 tongue of the notch half way up, and to insert a small wedge of 

 potsherd or wood to keep the division open. Rings of wire are 

 also sometimes used for the same purpose, and cutting the bark 

 round the part to within a little of the complete circumference of 

 the shoot. In all ordinary cases, however, the slit or notching 

 mode is perfectly effective. The ground should be kept quite 

 clean of weeds, and watered in dry weather. When sufficiently 

 rooted, the layers should be carefully cut away from the shoots, 

 with all the fibrous roots attached to them, and planted in rows 

 in fresh, well-prepared soil. The stools should have all the 

 stumps of the branches cut away, and left to produce a fresh 

 series of shoots for next autumn's layering. The following trees 

 are propagated by layers. 

 Acer eriocarpum, . . . White Maple. 



Acer montanum, 

 Acer negundo, 

 Acer rubrum, 

 Acer striatum, 

 Alnus glauca, 

 Alnus serrulata, 

 Betula lenta, 

 Betula lutea, 

 Betula papyrifera, 



Mountain Maple. 



Ash-Leaved Maple. 



Red- Flowering Maple. 



Striped Maple. 



Black Aldar. 



Common American Aldar. 



Black Birch. 



Yellow Birch. 



Canoe Birch. 



