Jan. 2, 190S.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W, 27 



in a peri^endicular position, and in a downward direction ; but, 

 in general, it is jireferable to make an incision on the under 

 side, unless the shoot is of a brittle nature, and may bend when 

 cut on the upper side with less danger of breaking. Tongueing 

 is certainly the best way of layering. (See Fig. 2.) 



5. Strangulation or wiring. — If a wire is twisted tightly round a 



branch, the ascending sap will flow along the vessels of the albur- 

 num or cambium layer, but the returning sap, descending by the 

 inner bark, will be checked. Woody layers continue to be formed 

 so long as the outside bark admits of being compressed, but by 

 degrees the portion of it within the ring becomes hard and so 

 compact as to prevent the return of the sap below the ring, and, of 

 course, the further deposition of woody layers. An accumulation 

 of the returning sap then takes place above the wires. Exposed to 

 the drying influence of the air, roots do not readily break out in 

 consequence of this accumulation, but an increased deposition of 

 woody matter is indicated by the swelling of the branch to a much 

 greater thickness immediately above the wire than below it. WHien, 

 however, the part around which the wire is twisted is laid in the 

 earth, the accumulated sap tends to form I'oots, and to encourage 

 their breaking out, the part above the ring is sometimes pricked 

 with a sharp instrument in various places quite through the inner 

 bark. 



6, Circumposition is an old term for a mode of propagation employed 



in cases where the branch is far np from the ground, or when from 

 stiffness, brittleness, or other circumstances it cannot be bent down. 

 Whilst the branch, for any of these reasons, retains its position, 

 some soil or compost is arranged around it in a box, garden pot, 

 basket, or any other article, adapted so that the branch can be 

 introduced into the interior. A garden pot may be used to greater 

 advantage when cut down the middle, and a piece taken ovit of the 

 bottom large enough to allow the branch to be introduced into the 

 pot. The pieces, of course, require to be bound or hooped together. 

 It, however, is preferable to arrange a post or stake with a board on 

 top, thus forming a table or stand for the pot to rest on. The 

 branch can then be introduced into the pot at the proper height, 

 and placed in a suitable position. A slit must be made about 

 2 inches up the centre of the stem with a sharp knife or saw, and 

 a piece of wood placed in the slit to keep it open. Owing to being 

 raised in the air, the soil in the pot or box is apt to dry rapidly, 

 and this should be prevented by mulching or with moss, which 

 should be kept moist. It will also prove advantageous to cover the 

 whole pot with moss, in order to prevent evaporation. Pots or 

 boxes made of slate, not being porous like those of earthenware, 

 are preferable for this mode of pi'opagation. (See Fig. 3.) 



