The Canadian Horticulturist. 



231 



cussion it was stated that of the Domestic type the Communia and Richland 

 have borne good fruit. In fact, all of the Domestics have done well in the 

 southern half of Iowa the past year. The Japan plums show vigor of growth, 

 but in some cases do not mature their wood. Mr. Berryhill has had most suc- 

 cess with Willard. It flowers at Des Moines from the middle to the latter part 

 of April. The Japan plums come into bloom suddenly, ripen earlier than any 

 of our plums, and with them we may have fruit from June until the end of the 

 season. 



HOW TO LAYER GRAPE VINES. 



] GRAPE layer is a branch of the previous year's growth laid in 

 early spring in a trench and covered with earth. Shoots start up 

 from this and beneath each shoot will be some roots, thus mak- 

 ing a new plant at each joint. But in a very dry season many 

 of the joints will not root, or if they do will make poor growth. 

 Better success may be attained by waiting later in the season. 

 A bare branch laid in a trench, even if very lightly covered with earth, gets such 

 a set back that many of the eyes will push feebly or not at all. Leave the 

 branch on the trellis till June or later, and let the buds push to six inches or 

 more in length. Then dig a bed of mellow soil and lay the branch on ',it to see 

 how many of the shoots will turn upwards. Cut out all that grow downwards, 

 and cut a slight notch under each of the other shoots on the main stem. This 

 is to arrest the flow of sap and cause the roots to form. When you have got 

 the branches you want, cut off the lower leaves at the basis of each shoot. 

 They do no good, and if left would be covered with earth when they would 

 rapidly decay and injure the plants. Dig a slight hollow deep enough to come 

 to moist earth, and with one or more forked sticks pin down the branch to the 

 ground, pressing it firmly against the soil. This is very important, as when 

 roots are formed it is necessary that they come in contact with the earth as soon 

 as possible. Finally, after the branch is trimmed and laid down, with a sharp 

 knife cqt a ring around it an inch wide, completely scraping off every particle of 

 the bark down to the wood. The efiect of this is to entirely arrest the back- 

 ward flow of the sap to the roots. The sap makes its way to every cut place, 

 and forms the basis from which the roots push. Make this excision near the 

 ground, and finally lay it down and cover it with earth. The part of the branch 

 outside the cut will soon swell to double the size of that next the stem. This 

 engorgement of sap goes into the new roots as they push from the shoots and 

 makes them very vigorous. 



Shoots of this season's growth will become firm enough to layer by mid- 

 summer. The extreme shoot should be cut back severely, so as to throw the 

 sap back into the laterals. Cut away the leaf under each shoot before setting. 

 Tiverton^ Ont. A. H. Cameron. 



