PROPAGATION. 227 



sends out its own runners, which at once strike root into the 

 earth, and every joint becomes a new plant ; while the 

 verbena, at least many of the varieties, trails along the ground, 

 and at every joint strikes fresh roots. This habit is aided by 

 pegging down, because it prevents the wind from blo"udng the 

 branches about, and tearing out the young fibres before they 

 are strong enough to resist the violence. Some florists layer 

 pansies, others will layer the chr^T^santhemum ; but whatever 

 will strike freely as cuttings ought not to be layered ; first, 

 because they are no addition or improvement to the appear- 

 ance of a plant, but the contrary; and secondly, because 

 cuttings are to be taken from plants without injuring them, 

 and be struck under a glass, where they will be no detriment 

 to the appearance of a garden. The principles of layering are 

 the same, be they applied to what they may. The sweet- 

 william, although so easily raised from seed, can only be 

 perpetuated by layers or cuttings ; and layers are by far the 

 safest and best. The sweetwilliam, if double, or more than 

 usually fine, always supplies a suflicient number of bottom 

 shoots to enable us to propagate that particular kind ; and the 

 operation is to be conducted just like the layering of carnations 

 and pinks ; and by this means we might, at any time, multiply 

 a favourite variety to any extent. A mule dianthus, twice 

 the size of a sweetwiUiam, but with much of its habit, is so 

 increased ; and we have no doubt that much might be done if 

 we simply selected the best out of a batch of sweetwilhams 

 and layered them, to perpetuate the sort, while we as carefully 

 saved their seeds to improve on them, that we may go on 

 layering the best again ; instead of which most people rely 

 entirely on seed, and allow the best after blooming to perish, 

 as they would an annual. Layering, in fact, enables us to 

 propagate many plants which it is very dijOScult to strike as 

 cuttings, and which, being easily obtained from seed, are 

 seldom improved. But a great majority of valuable trees 

 and shrubs are propagated by grafting, budding, and other 

 means. 



Offsets and Parting the Eoots. — All kinds of bulbs, as 

 the tulip, hyacinth, crocus, shallot, and such like, and many 

 sorts of tubers, as the ranunculus, anemone, potato, Jerusalem 

 artichoke, rhubarb, and similar plants, and many fibrous- 

 rooted plants, like herbaceous perennials generally, will, if left 

 in the ground long enough, spread themselves to a great 



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