280 Oa the Planthifj of Forest-Tree.?. 



they should be transplanted into rows the following spring, as 

 directed for other plants. The operation of severing the roots by 

 a spade applies only to the deciduous plants mentioned in con- 

 nexion with it, and perhaps should be confined to the oaks, and 

 when practised should be executed with great care. Elm, plane, 

 and most kinds of poplar may be propagated by cuttings; they 

 should be placed in moist ground, and in rows at least 2 feet 

 apart, with intervals between each plant of 6 inches, and they re- 

 quire no more care than that of keeping them free from weeds by 

 hoeing. The abele, birch, alder, hornbeam, wych elm, and 

 maple, are commonly propagated by layers. Bend down the 

 branches of the plant, make an incision in the bottom of the bight 

 or bend, fasten it down with a hooked peg a little below the 

 general surface of the ground, and then cover it with mould, 

 keeping the top above ground. By making the cut as directed, 

 the branch is not only more easily fastened down, but roots will 

 be more readily formed, and these will be found to proceed from 

 the bark of the upper portion; the vessels of the bark being the 

 organs through which the sap descends to form both the alburnum 

 and also the roots. The layers thus produced will be fit to plant 

 in lines the following autumn or spring. Many plants of this 

 kind may also be planted by suckers, which are produced by 

 laying the roots bare, then making notches in them and returning 

 the mould. I have noticed the rapid manner in which the robinia 

 is propagated in America by merely severing the roots with a 

 sharp spade. 



Though it is not strictly within the limits of this paper to speak 

 of apple-trees, I will, however, mention, that to raise stocks, the 

 pulp of apples or of crabs (the latter is preferable) , from which 

 the juice has been pressed, may be placed in trenches and co- 

 vered about an inch deep with mould ; the plants will rise in the 

 spring, and must be kept clean by hoeing and hand-weeding. 

 In the following year they should be planted in lines about 18 

 inches apart, with intervals of 6 inches, and after standing two 

 years should be again transplanted at the distance of 3 or 4 feet 

 from each other, to stand till they are grafted and finally removed. 

 In raising apple-trees, it is an evil practice to cut off the side 

 shoots early, by which the plant is not only checked in its growth, 

 but becomes cylindrical instead of conical, and, in consequence, 

 twists and grows crooked, as is often seen in nurseries of these 

 trees; so little is the office of leaves and twigs understood. At 

 first, such side shoots as are growing very rampant should be 

 shortened only, and others should be removed very gradually, and 

 not finally until the head is cut off for grafting. By adopting this 

 method, the stem will be strong, tapering, and upright, and the 

 plant will be in great vigour to force the graft. 



