PROPAGATION OF PLANTS. 



sand, about two-thirds of their length, covered as shown A represents 

 the surface of the sand. These green cuttings must be placed in close 

 frames, frequently syringed overhead, and the temperature should not 

 be allowed to fall much below sixty degrees, and if kept at eighty or 

 ninety degrees the roots will push out all the more rapidly. These cut- 

 tings may thenceforward receive the same treatment as those of ordinary 

 tender greenhouse plants, and in spring transferred to frames in the 

 open ground ; or, if well ripened off, set out in nursery rows, when the 

 weather will permit, in early summer. 



Layering is one of the most simple and certain modes of propagating 

 the Grape and it is no doubt the oldest, for whenever the canes of wild 

 vines come in contact with the earth they emit 

 roots and thus become layers. But to facilitate 

 the emission of roots we bend down a cane and 

 cover that part on which we desire roots with 

 soil, and this layer is but a cutting which is left 

 attached to the parent plant, and derives nour- 

 ishment therefrom, until it has produced roots 

 of its own. Layers may be put down in fall or 



Fig. 104. LAYERING THE GRAPE. 



spring, and the young canes of the season's growth are preferable to 

 older wood, as they produce roots the most freely and readily, no notch- 

 ing, twisting or tonguing being required. Vines grown expressly for 

 layers should be planted about six feet apart, and headed back in the 

 fall in order to force out a larger number of strong canes the following 

 season. The growing canes may be layered in summer, but the better 

 plan is to allow them to grow unchecked the entire season and layered 

 the next, each cane making one strong layer after it is cut back to a 

 convenient length. But if all the canes of a vine are layered, it would 

 too severely check its growth, and the more usual practice is to use only 

 one or two of the canes in any one season, and cut back the others so 

 that new shoots will be produced for use the following year. If a larger 

 number of layers are desired than can be secured by making one plant 



