PROPAGATION. 27 



nearest side of the hole, rest on the bottom, and rise up, press- 

 ing against the opposite side, when it should be fastened up- 

 right, and, if necessary, to a small stake. At the time of bend- 

 ing, a sod or other weight may be laid on to keep it down till 

 the hole is filled ; and if the mellow earth be pressed firmly 

 down with the foot, no forked stick will be usually neces- 

 sary. 



The most favorable state of a plant for layering is when the 

 bark is somewhat soft and not too ripe, and the worst shoots 

 are those which are stunted, and with a hard bark. There 

 are, however, no shoots whatever, not actually diseased, that 

 will not root by layers, if sufficient time be given. Layers, 

 like cuttings, may be made of the ripened wood in autumn or 

 spring; or of the growing wood at or a little before midsum- 

 mer, when the part intended to root is somewhat mature and 

 firm in texture. The pear, the apple, and the quince, if lay- 

 ered early in the spring, or the grape in summer, will usually 

 be well rooted in autumn. 



A moist season is the most favorable to the rooting of 

 layers, by preserving a softer bark. For this reason, many 

 plants may be more easily propagated in England than in the 

 United States; and more readily in Ireland than in England. 



Layering is largely made use of for propagating the grape, 

 occasionally for the quince, and sometimes for the apple. It 

 is also of very extensive application in propagating many or- 

 namental trees and shrubs. 



Suckers may be regarded as spontaneous layers, the new 

 shoots being sent up from buds on the roots or portions of 

 the stem beneath the surface of the ground. They are much 

 employed in multiplying most species of the raspberry. The 

 runners of strawberries may be regarded as layers or suckers 

 above ground. 



III. GRAFTING. 



Upwards of twenty different modifications of grafting were 

 mentioned by the ancient Roman writer, Varro; and Thouin, 

 of Paris, has described and figured more than a hundred 

 kinds. The great number of modes given in books has tended 

 rather to bewilder than to enlighten beginners; the following 



