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they first make their appearance above 

 ground. 



" By placing some small branches 

 thickly over the beds until the young 

 plants have thrown off' the old seed- 



^' Inarching is another way for in- 

 creasing the pine tribe, but, like graft- 

 ing, only suitable for the propagation 

 of curious varieties, and is certainly a 

 more unsightly way than that of cleft- 



coat, they may be protected from the grafting, as the stock and scion hardly 

 ravages of birds ; if attacked by mice, ever unite to cover the old heel, when 

 traps must be set for catching them, as separated from the mother plant. 

 the only safe mode of preventing such ■ " This operation may be performed 

 pests; and if subject to be eaten by either with the last year's or the pre- 

 slugs, some wood-ashes should be ceding year's wood, but the former is 

 sown over the beds just as the young ' by far the quickest in taking ; it is best 

 plants are making their appearance. ' performed about the same time as graft- 

 " The seeds of the greater part of i ing, but the inarches must not be re- 

 the pine tribe come up in about six ■ moved for two years, 

 weeks after sowing in the open border, " Layering is certainly one of the 

 and the most of them will be fit for best modes, where it can be done, 

 transplanting into nursery-rows the Layering should be performed early in 

 first year after sowing; afterwards they the spring, before the plant begins to 



may be treated in the same way as 

 other forest trees." — Gard. Chron. 



Grafting, Src — " The pine or fir 

 tribe are sometimes increased by graft- 

 ing or inarching. It is at present little 

 practised, and when it is so, only as a 

 means of propagating some of the curi- 



grow, and in the usual common way, 

 by slightly tonguing and laying the 

 shoots in light sandy soil, pegging them 

 securely down. 



" They will require two years to 

 root, but it should be observed, that 

 in layering, the whole plant must be 



ous varieties ofthe propersection Pinus, layered, as it is very uncertain if only 

 which are the most difficult and uncer- the bottom branches are so done, as 

 tain to strike from cuttings. Procure ' these frequently die after the operation 

 some good healthy young plants of the [ if the upper ones are left on : therefore 

 common kinds, of the same section to ! the whole plant should be bent down, 

 which the sort to be increased belongs or the head cut off", 

 in pots ; if it is to the robust two-leaved I " Pines and firs should be planted in 

 section, such as the Pinaster or Stone the open ground, about the end of April, 

 Pine, procure them for the stocks : if to ' 

 the Weymouth or Scotch, procure thom, 

 but they will take on the common Scotch 

 Fir. If the species or variety belongs 

 to the Spruce or silver tribe, procure , 

 such for stocks ; if it belongs to the ce- 

 dar or larch section, the common larch 



if they are rare or tender kinds : but if 

 hardy and common ones, the end of 

 February is best. 



" The Soil most suitable for them is 

 a light sandy loam, on a dry subsoil; 

 but they will all grow in almost any 

 soil that is not overcharged with water, 

 will do, bearing in mind that the species or too poor, if encouraged at first by 

 intended to be united should be as mixing a little sandy loam andleaf mould 

 nearly related as possible ; for although with the common earth, when planting 

 the true Pinus may be worked on a ' them where they are permanently to 

 larch stock, they will soon perish. The | remain. 



operation is performed on the current ' " In planting, the roots should be 

 year's growth by clefl grafting, (and spread out as much as possible, and 

 always in the leading shoot, shortening kept near the surface, leaving the plant 

 several of the side shoots at the time,) a little elevated on a small mound, if 



or by splitting the stock down the cen- 

 tre after the head is removed sufficiently 

 deep for receiving the scion, which 

 must be cut wedge-shaped, to fit. | 



The time of performing the opera- 



the adjoining ground is level, but if on 

 a declivity, it is of no consequence. 



" When planted, they should be well 

 watered, not immediately at the roots, 

 but for a yard or two all round, and 



tion is when the young shoots are about ' then a few spruce fir or other branches 

 half-grown, and are brittle with the should be stuck round, to break off" tiie 

 stock ; the operation is done in the | sun's rays, and the winds ; if they are 

 usual way afterwards, by tying, and ex- tender they should have a large iiand- 



cluding the air. 



I glass over them for the first winter, 



