INTRODUCTION. XI 



will strike if planted in a common border. But tliere are so 

 many requisites for the different kinds of plants, that we have 

 gone fully into the operation under some of the principal 

 subjects when describing the treatment of the plants. 



LAYERING. 



This is performed on many kinds of plants that do not 

 strike root very readily from cuttings. It is performed by 

 bending a shoot or branch down under the surface, and pegging 

 it there to prevent it from springing up again, leaving the 

 end exposed and turned upwards. Some plants will strike 

 root very readily when so pegged under ground, such as 

 Laurels, Hollies, Rhododendrons, Pyruses, Laurestinus, and 

 shrubs in general ; but the operation is greatly facilitated 

 by intercepting the flow of sap in any way : for instance, by 

 notching the branch or shoot half way through, by twisting 

 the shoot, or, if it be of a tough nature, by bending it short, 

 so as to break the texture. It strikes root at that place where 

 the sap is thus intercepted. The branch should not be pegged 

 too deep, as the air is as necessary to it as the moisture, and 

 care must be taken always to keep the ground moist. The 

 most simple way is to cut a slit or to notch half through the 

 wood, and to let this notch be just under a joint or leaf. 



GRAFTING. 



This is the joining a small portion of one kind of plant to 

 the stem of another, which should be a stronger plant of the 

 same family. It is done for the purpose of propagating the 

 more scarce one, or, at least, making one and sacrificing the 

 other ; so that in cases where only a small piece of a valuable 

 plant, that does not readily increase by cuttings, is obtainable, 

 the operation becomes an important one. We will suppose it 

 to be a Rose which may be grafted on a brier ; or a variegated 

 or scarce Holly on a common green one ; or a Daphne IncUca 

 upon a Daphne pontica, or a Spurge Laurel ; or a new variety 

 of any plant upon an old or common one. Cut the two — the 

 graft and stock — so that they fit as close as possible : never 

 mind about the plan of the fit, nor the size you are fitting- it 



