220 PLANNING AND PLANTING 



produces the top of the new plant, the old top of 

 course being 1 cut away right over the bud or eye. 



Grafting 1 is the insertion of a cutting or scion 

 into the stem or root of another variety, the root 

 usually being selected for its habit of strong 

 development and for its hardiness, as in the 

 grafted rose, or to utilize the root and strength 

 of a tree already grown, but of inferior variety, 

 as in the grafting of an apple or cherry tree. 



Grafting of dahlias is quite common practice. 

 Many of the valuable varieties produce but in- 

 ferior roots and the tuber of a more common vari- 

 ety will be chosen, the woody neck with eye of the 

 better plant grafted thereto and held in place with 

 skewers made from toothpicks or matches. 



And last, the layering method of propagation. 

 Layering is the drawing down of tips or shoots to 

 the ground and holding them there with soil or 

 skewering them to the ground with clothespins, 

 hairpins or small sticks. 



Where the tips and 1 the joints come into con- 

 tact with the ground they will take root, and later 

 may be severed from the parent plant and re- 

 planted. 



Amongst the plants that are increased by this 

 method are the climbing roses and the hybrid 

 perpetuals, grapes, raspberries and blackberries, 

 hydrangeas and various shrubs and vines. 



Plant life is full of wonders. I could tell you 



