PROPAGATION 153 



years before they made any roots, but in the 

 end I was successful by adopting this treatment. 

 Layering is found a useful way of increasing 

 some plants which do not, in this country at 

 least, produce seed, or are difficult to strike 

 from cuttings ; the Rhododendron, Azalea, 

 and Daphne species, for example. By layer- 

 ing, stronger plants can often be obtained 

 than from cuttings. The process of layer- 

 ing is quite simple. Choosing a convenient 

 branch or shoot near the ground, cut it half 

 through near a joint, and then peg firmly to 

 the ground, which should at the point of con- 

 tact consist of fine loam and sand in equal 

 parts ; then cover about 2 inches deep with the 

 same compost. If, as is sometimes the case, it 

 is found impossible to make the branch touch 

 the ground, it may be inserted in a box, raised 

 to the required height. The great thing to 

 remember is to make the piece that is to be 

 layered quite firm, so that it cannot be shaken 

 about in the soil. In the following spring, if 

 roots have been made (which may be ascertained 

 by trying if the layered portion is firm in the 

 ground), cut this piece from the parent plant, 



