256 [ THE APPLE TREE 



the shorter ones are stuck straight and the long ones 

 in a slanting position, leaving only about 5 c.m. of 

 the cutting above the ground. The soil is pressed down 

 firmly around them, and is kept clean of weeds and 

 well moist by watering frequently in dry weather. The 

 cuttings are allowed to remain for two years in the 

 bed, and are then transplanted to their final destination. 



Layers are made at all seasons, but they are 

 best made in March when the buds are swelling. They 

 are made in two ways, either by interring deeply only 

 a small part of the branch, leaving the upper part 

 above ground, or by interring the whole branch about 

 10 c.m. below the surface, leaving only the tips of 

 the twigs with their terminal buds above the ground. 

 In the first case the interred part of the branch is 

 bruised or notched with a knife, to induce the emission 

 of roots, and the layer is then left to take care of 

 itself, but if watered during the summer the formation 

 of roots is better assured. In the second method watering 

 has to be continued regularly, otherwise the layered 

 twigs being too close to the surface will not emit 

 roots in a dry soil. By the first method fine layers 

 are obtained from the first year, which will bear 

 transplanting at once to their final destination, whereas 

 the second method is used merely as an alternative 

 to propagation by cuttings when it is required to 

 raise large quantities of plants, as most of the interred 

 twigs will root. However the plants obtained by this 

 method will be too weak to be planted out in the 

 following winter, so that a selection is made and the 

 few strong ones are planted out in the orchard, and the 

 rest are transplanted into nursery beds where they are 

 allowed to acquire strength for a year or two before use. 



Suckers afford a most easy way of propagation, 

 and this method is therefore particularly in favour with 

 our gardeners. The apple tree has a natural tendency 

 to throw up suckers around the base of the stem or 



