Jan. 2, 190S.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.JT. 25 



exliibiting a margin of irregular excrescences, but when the ringed portion 

 is placed in the soil, the cellular tissue, protected from the drying influence 

 of the air, forms granulations, which by degrees elongate and assume the 

 form and office of spongioles. It is upon these principles that the operation 

 of layering is founded. The shoot or branch is kept alive by the flow of 

 sap from the parent, and various means are adopted to check its return, and 

 induce the formation of roots on the layered branch where it is placed in 

 the soil. When these have formed in sufficient quantity for the entire 

 support of the layer, it may be severed from the parent, and removed at the 

 l^roper season for transplanting, which is from May till August, according 

 to circumstances. Various modes of layering are adopted, the principal 

 being as follows : — Simple bending in the earth ; twisting ; 

 incision by splitting, tongueing, or heeling ; strangulation, 

 or wiring; ringing or piercing ; serpentine arching; insertion 



Fig. 1. 



of the growing point ; and circumposition ; and when the principles upon 

 which these are founded are understood, the modes of operation can be varied 

 still moie : — 



1. Simply bending the branch in the earth and covering. This is 



usually unsuccessful, as there are only a few varieties which will 

 take root in this manner. 



2. Incision by splitting. Select branches which will bend easily, and 



remove the leaves where they are going to come in contact with 

 the soil, thrusting a sharp-pointed knife through the middle of the 

 branch at the continued part which is to be laid in the earth, and 

 then split it longitudinally to the extent of 2 inches or so, more or 

 less, according to the size of the branch. The parts are kept 

 separate by a piece of wood or stone. The split, of course, occasions 

 an obstruction of the sap, and allows of the emission of roots by 

 the edge of the cleft. (See Fig. 1.) 



3. Twisting is performed by twisting the branch and then covering with 



soil. This operation is to check the returning sap, and conse- 

 quently favour the emission of roots. 



