26 



Agrictiltural Gazette of N.S. W. {Jan. 2, 1908. 



4. Tongueing or heeling is performed by entering the knife about the 

 lowest part of the bend below a bud, and cutting upwards about 

 1 inch or 2, the branch being then pliint(M] at the proper depth. 

 A stone or ])iece of wood is iilacod in a gr(»ivc made for its recep- 

 tion, and the whole kept from springing out of tiie ground by a 

 hooked peg. In placing it, care must be taken to keep the divided 

 portion separate, for, if in contact, they woidd unite, and the object 

 of making the cleft would l)e defeated. It is also necessary to 

 observe that all buds on the layer below the surface, except the bud 

 at the base of the tongue, should be r\d)bed off or cut out before the 

 shoot is laid down. It will be seen that the sap can ascend l)y the 

 upper side into the buds left above the 

 when these exj^and into shoots or leaves, 

 latter are able to return elaborated sap, 

 turns to the stem, whilst another jpor- 



towards the tongue, and arcunui- 



must lireakout in the shupeof roots. 



bud of the shoot will have the tiow 



dii'cet, because the vessels on 



entire ; but it will also fiufl its way 



remaining uiu-ut. The saji from 



surface ; but 

 and when the 

 a portion I'e- 

 tion will go 

 lating there, 

 The topmost 

 of sap more 

 that side are 

 t(i the buds 

 /-! the leaves 

 % 



Fig. 2. 



produced by the latter will, liowever, tend to return to the tongue, 

 in consequence of that part being on the same side and in con- 

 nection witli (lie part from which roots proceed. Spongioles 

 should be encouraged with a compost of sand, leaf mould, and 

 loam of equal parts, well mixed, and put all over the part that 

 is laid in the ground. The reason for cutting below the bud is 

 that when a shoot is cut a little above a joint or bud, the dividing 

 parts are apt to die tij) to the next joint, and it has also a 

 tendency to injure the core of the branch, and if this happens 

 the layer will die. The tongue is sometimes made on the upper 

 side, and the branch is twisted so that the tongue may be placed 



