128 STOVE, GREENHOUSE, AND OTHER RARE PLANTS. 



in the clearest part of the stem with a small sharp knife ; (a most 

 necessary instrument for this business,) the bark of each must then 

 be fitted together in the most exact manner, at least on one side, and 

 tied perfectly tight with good matting ; they must be clayed in the 

 same manner as grafts ; and, as being within doors in a warm 

 house will occasion the clay to become over dry, and liable 

 to crack, they should, at least in dry weather, receive two or three 

 times a week, some water from the rose of a water pot, or by means 

 of a syringe, to preserve it in a proper moist state, observing to do it 

 in the evening lest the leaves should get scorched by the rays of the 

 sun : a little moss tied neatly round each ball of clay will prevent the 

 water being so frequently necessary : which is in my opinion very 

 desirable. Eight or ten weeks will in general be found suflicient 

 time for them to unite ; at all events, by that time, I think, they 

 may be partially separated from the parent plant by cutting the in- 

 arched shoots better than half way through ; and if, on trial, they are 

 found to be united, and bear that operation well, they may in a few 

 days afterwards be entirely cut off and placed in a shady part of the 

 house, where they must be kept moderately syringed as before, and 

 some additional shade given according to the state of the weather for 

 two or three weeks ; during which time, they may be untied, and the 

 top of the stock cut off in a neat manner; and also any unnecessary 

 part of the bottom of the scion that may remain : let a little clay be 

 again applied, that these fresh wounds may have sufficient time to 

 become properly healed, which will take place in a few weeks. In this 

 manner have I succeeded with Myrtus Pimento, and other plants al- 

 lied to it, which are particularly difficult to strike or propagate, by 

 any other means, on the common myrtle with tolerable success; and 

 also many other plants of the same description upon their kind. 



In laving, choice should be made of the young tender shoots of the 

 present year, the soft bark of which will sooner form a callosity, and 

 produce roots, than that of any of the preceding years growth. It is 

 particularly necessary to observe, whether the plant intended to be 

 layed is of a brittle nature or not ; for if it is, it will be necessary 

 that the shoots be pegged gently down to the surface previous to lay- 

 ing, and thus left, until their tops naturally accpiire a perpendicular 

 direction, which they will do in a few days ; without this precaution 

 it will be extremely difficult to tongue them without cracking, or 

 breaking them off; but if treated in this manner, the most brittle 

 may be layed without danger. 



By tongireing is meant, the operation of cutting a small longitu- 

 dinal scalp about half an inch in length, on the inner side of the heel 



