224 ON PROPAGATING EXOTICS, 



other pots, filled with the same kinds of compost, and placed near 

 enough for this purpose. Secure them firmly down with wooden 

 pegs, and cover them about an inch and a half with soil; then lay 

 a little mulch, or some mowings of short grass, on the surface, to 

 preserve the moisture ; refresh them with water when required. 

 Some of the shoots thus laid will be effectually rooted the same 

 summer, or by Michaelmas, and fit for repotting into separate 

 pots, as directed for cuttings ; such as are not, must be permitted 

 to remain till the following spring. 



5. Inarching, or Grafting by Approach. — Citrus, Punica, 

 and similar exotic genera, are often propagated by this means on 

 stocks raised from pips. When it is intended to inarch any par- 

 ticular kind, it must be observed that the stock to be grafted on, 

 and the plant from which the graft is procured, must stand near 

 enough to allow the branch intended to be inarched, as it grows 

 upon the parent tree, to approach and join readily to a convenient 

 part of the stock, forming a sort of arch ; for the graft is not to be 

 separated till some months after performing the operation, nor is 

 the head of the stock to be cut off till that time. Some genera, as 

 Camellia, Magnolia, &c, are often inarched upon the commoner 

 kinds, or those species that will strike root readily from cuttings. 

 From April to June is the most proper time for performing this 

 mode of propagation. Two or three kinds are sometimes inarched 

 on the same graft, which makes a pleasing and varied appearance. 



C. Root Divisions. — Cultivators at the present day often re- 

 sort to this mode in increasing those exotics that will not seed, or 

 propagate readily by other means ; but this way cannot be acted 

 on extensively, unless the propagator has the acquisition of a con- 

 servatory to supply his wants ; and then care must be taken not to 

 approach too near, or to injure, the parent plant. As large pieces 

 as can be spared must be procured and planted in the same kind 

 of soil as the whole plants, in pots proportioned to the size of the 

 roots, with their points above the surface, when they must be 

 plunged in a prepared hotbed, not too hot, nor containing much 

 rank steam. A little air must be allowed in the middle of the day, 

 and shade when the sun is powerful. After they have taken fresh 

 root, and the tops begin to produce leaves, they must be removed, 

 and hardened by degrees to the respective departments. Many 

 species of the ornamental and interesting genus Acacia can only 



