304 ANNUAL REPORT 



when cut at several joints above, and in many cases, where an 

 inch or so of the old wood is left attached to the base they will 

 be all the better. In this country cuttings should be prepared 

 in the fall, and be hurried in the earth out of doors for the 

 winter, out of the reach of frost and carefully mounded over to 

 throw off water. They should be planted very early in the spring 

 or as early as the ground is in good condition for working, and, 

 as a general thing, so deep that but one or two buds will be 

 above the surface of the ground. At the time for planting, 

 trenches are opened with a spade as deep as necessary, and the 

 cuttings set in at the proper distance apart. When the cuttings 

 are in the trench, the earth is partly filled in and trod firmly 

 down with the foot, then the balance is filled in and leveled up. 

 If cuttings are long they may be set sloping so as to be within 

 the reach of heat and air. This method of propagation is pecu- 

 liarly well adapted to the grape, currant and goosberry, as 

 well as to many ornamental trees. 



LAYERS. 



The layer is similar to a cutting except that it is allowed to 

 remain in partial connection with the parent phint until it has 

 emitted roots. On this account layers are more certain than cut- 

 tings, and frequently considerable time is gained in fruiting. It 

 is the best method for propagating the grape and goosberry. It 

 may be performed in the spring with shoots of the previous 

 year's growth, or in July or August with shoots of the same 

 season's growth. The ordinary method is to spade the ground 

 where the branch is to be laid, making it light and pliable. The 

 branch is then brought to the ground and an incision made on 

 the lower side, below a bud, through the bark and partly 

 through the wood, and the knife is drawn upward splitting the 

 shoot an inch or two in length; then the branch is laid in the 

 earth with the cut open and pegged down with a hooked stick 

 and the soil drawn smoothly over to a depth of two or three 

 inches, with the end of the branch remaining out of the ground. 

 After they are well rooted they should be severed from the 

 the parent plant and are usualy ready for transplanting the 

 following spring. 



