430 



REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 



Stolons — Increasing plants by their ability to avail themselves of new ter- 

 ritory by striking root at the end of the branches is of great economic 

 importance to the nursei'yman. Black raspberries and strawberries are 

 propagated exclusively by this means. The black-cap strikes root readily at 

 the end of the shoot, as shown in Fig. II, and strawberries (Fig. Ill) throw 

 out numerous runners, which strike root at intervals along their course and 

 give a large increase per plant. 



Layers — The distinction between layers and stolons is that in the case of 

 stolons the act of striking root is wholly dependent upon natural conditions, 



Fig. III. 



while layering is a voluntary operation on the part of man. A layer is a 

 branch placed in contact with the earth for the purpose of inducing the 

 formation of roots, the shoot or branch remaining the meanwhile attached 

 to the parent plant. Layering is a favorite method- of multiplying woody 



plants, which strike root from cutting 

 with difficulty. The quince, currant, 

 gooseberry are easily multiplied by 

 stools, which is a form of layering 

 shown in Fig. IV. The grape is easily 

 increased from layers made by bury- 

 ing a cane at intervals or throughout 

 its whole length ; roots and branches 

 are thrown out at the nodes or joints 

 and each one forming roots may be 

 used as an independent plant by de- 

 taching it from the parent. Such a 

 layer is shown at Fig. V. The growth 



EH. 



Fig. IV. 



of the young plants resulting from layering would not appear as represented 

 in the drawing, but the largest plant would undoubtedly be the one farthest 

 from the parent, and it might be the only one formed in the entire length of 

 the layer, unless means of checking its growth were used so as to stimulate 

 growth from the other buds. 



